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 Los Angeles Sparks

Sparks Announce 2023 Final Roster

May 18, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release


LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Sparks, led by Head Coach Curt Miller, tip off the 2023 season tomorrow, Friday May 19th, at Crypto.com Arena against the Phoenix Mercury at 8 p.m. PT on ESPN.

The Sparks 12-woman final roster returns five players from the 2022 Sparks, led by former MVP and WNBA champion Nneka Ogwumike. Also returning is two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike, WNBA Champions Lexie Brown and Jordin Canada, and Southern California native Katie Lou Samuelson, who will miss the 2023 season (pregnancy).

The newest additions feature WNBA Champion Azura Stevens, two-time All-Star, Sixth Woman of the Year and 2022 WNBA Champion Dearica Hamby, and three-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection and 2017 All-Star Jasmine Thomas. The Sparks also signed former WNBL MVP Steph Talbot this offseason, who will miss the 2023 season with a torn ACL suffered this offseason.

Rookie and No. 10 pick Zia Cooke (South Carolina) will make her regular season debut for Los Angeles, while the No. 14 pick Shaneice Swain (Australia) will not come over to the WNBA in 2023.

The Sparks rounded out the 2023 roster with WNBA All-Star Layshia Clarendon and forward Joyner Holmes. In addition, the Sparks today claimed second-year combo guard Nia Clouden off waivers. Clouden was drafted No. 12 overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2022 WNBA Draft. The Michigan State standout scored 50 points in a collegiate game against Florida Gulf Coast, setting a program record.

The Sparks lead the WNBA with 20 franchise postseason appearances and are the only franchise to reach 500 regular season wins.

Final Roster

No. Player POS EXP DOB College/Country

1 Zia Cooke G R 9-Jan-01 South Carolina/USA

2 Nia Clouden G 1 17-May-00 Michigan/USA

4 Lexie Brown G 5 27-Oct-94 Duke/USA

5 Dearica Hamby F 9 6-Nov-93 Wake Forest/USA

13 Chiney Ogwumike F-C 5 21-Mar-92 Stanford/USA

15 Jasmine Thomas G 12 30-Sept-89 Duke/USA

21 Jordin Canada G 5 11-Aug-95 UCLA/USA

23 Azura Stevens C 5 1-Feb-96 Connecticut/USA

24 Joyner Holmes F 3 22-Feb-98 Texas/USA

25 Layshia Clarendon G 10 2-May-91 Cal/USA

30 Nneka Ogwumike F 10 2-Jul-90 Stanford/USA

33 *Katie Lou Samuelson F 4 13-Jun-97 Connecticut/USA

*Katie Lou Samuelson will miss the 2023 season (pregnancy)

*Steph Talbot will miss the 2023 season (ACL)

Basketball Operations & Coaching Staff

Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager - Karen Bryant

Assistant General Manager - Eli Horowitz

Vice President, Operations & Player Relations- Ilene Hauser

Head Coach- Curt Miller

Assistant Coach- Chris Koclanes

Assistant Coach- Steve Smith

Assistant Coach - Danielle Viglione

Player Development Coach- Nola Henry

Video & Analytics Coordinator- Addison Lee

Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer- Dr. Courtney Watson

Assistant Athletic Trainer- Charvette Johnson

Strength and Performance Coach -Emily Blurton

Equipment & Facilities Manager - Thomas Archie


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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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