LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Sparks have had a busy offseason trying to build a solid, competitive squad after the departures of All-Stars Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray. Derek Fisher, operating in a dual role as head coach and newly appointed GM, has made some savvy additions to this squad to try and plug some of the holes created by the losses of CP3 and Gray.
The Sparks signed All-Star combo guard Erica Wheeler, center/forward Amanda Zahui B., and guard/forward Bria Holmes. All three are excited to be in Los Angeles and look forward to making the Sparks a competitive squad during the 2021 season.
Wheeler was an All-Star for the Indiana Fever in 2019 after originally going undrafted in 2015. She was also the first undrafted player to be named the All-Star Game MVP and opted out of playing the 2020 season in the “Wubble.”
Wheeler will bring an element of toughness, energy, efficiency in the pick-and-roll and even some leadership.
“I’m a person that works hard and I tend to keep doing that and bring passion to the game,” Wheeler said. “Just being able to learn my teammates and piggy backing because not every person is the same. Learn them, see what drives them, what pushes them, see how I can talk to them. I’m going to be a leader regardless of the matter, because I’m going to have the ball in my hand most of the time.”
Zahui B. will bring some outside shooting into the frontcourt to properly compliment former MVP Nneka Ogwumike. The former Liberty center shot 34 percent from 3-point range in 2020 while averaging 9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
“I’m looking forward to working on being a stronger presence in the paint, and just working with [Derek] getting more comfortable going back to that role,” Zahui B. said. “This is a new setting, this is a new scenery, a new coaching staff. So it’s going to be different, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Holmes is a long, versatile, athletic wing who can defend multiple positions and brings experience to the Sparks as someone who went to the 2019 WNBA Finals with the Connecticut Sun.
She emphasized the importance of playing her game and staying true to who she is as a player.
“Basically being me, playing my game of basketball,” Holmes said. “Getting out in transition, me getting stops on the defensive end, bringing that energy on both ends of the floor. I’m looking forward to this opportunity, I’m forever grateful for this and thankful. I’m just ready to start competing.”
There is no question all three of these players will bring something different to the Sparks this season, and the question will be, will it be enough to challenge the elites like the champion Seattle Storm or the Las Vegas Aces. Time will tell when the season gets rolling.
