LOS ANGELES — The Sparks now have two of the top four picks in April’s WNBA draft after trading for former All-Star guard Kia Nurse and the No. 4 overall pick from the Seattle Storm in exchange for the Sparks’ 2026 first-round pick, the team announced Wednesday.
“Being able to add a player with Kia’s skillset and experience will fill a big role for us this season and I look forward to seeing her impact,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said in a statement. “Adding a second lottery pick also assures another significant addition to our roster in 2024. We’re thrilled about both and what they will be able to accomplish here in Los Angeles.”
It was the Sparks’ second offseason move before free agents can sign new contracts Thursday. The team’s first move was designating point guard Jordin Canada as a core player, which gives the team exclusive negotiating rights for a free-agent contract or the ability to trade Canada for compensation, instead of her leaving the team as an unrestricted free agent.
Meanwhile, the trade with Seattle gives the Sparks three first-round picks in the upcoming draft: No. 2 (the Sparks’ pick), No. 4 (from Seattle) and No. 12 (acquired from Las Vegas in the Dearica Hamby trade). The WNBA draft is scheduled for April 15, which will take place about a week after the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Cleveland.
The Sparks will use those two lottery picks in hopes of finding a foundational talent who could one day replace Nneka Ogwumike, who recently announced she was leaving the Sparks via free agency.
LA, I hope it’s not goodbye, but ‘see you later’. pic.twitter.com/kalKHp4k3o
— Nneka Ogwumike (@nnekaogwumike) January 25, 2024
The Sparks, who finished 17-23 last season and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, will take on Nurse’s salary, (a one-year protected contract, according to Her Hoop Stats) which opens up salary-cap space for Seattle.
Nurse was drafted by the New York Liberty 10th overall in 2018, and has averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in five seasons in the league with the Liberty from 2018-2020, Phoenix Mercury in 2021 and the Storm in 2023. Nurse missed the 2022 season while recovering from an ACL injury.
In 2023 with the Storm, she averaged just 5.9 points per game, well below her All-Star season of 13.7 points per game in 2019, when she was selected as a starter and participated in the 3-point contest.
“I am excited that we were able to acquire Kia and welcome her to our Sparks family,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said. “Kia is a versatile veteran guard who can play multiple positions and brings a toughness and physicality that will fit in perfectly with our team.”
The 6-foot guard played at the University of Connecticut, where she won back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016.
Welcome to LA, @KayNurse11!
Sparks fam, give Kia a warm welcome! 💜https://t.co/2GmH8xiJFM pic.twitter.com/p8NzKB3rsB
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) January 31, 2024
