Yang, 28, is coming off a season with Inner Mongolia of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Assn. in which she averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 19 games. She shot a career-best 61.4% from the field, including 40.4% from three-point range, and 81.1% from the free-throw line.
The 5-foot-9, four-time All-Star recently helped China take the silver medal at the FIBA Women’s World Cup, averaging 9.3 points, 3.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds while shooting 46.5% from the field and 50% from deep.
“Liwei is an outstanding and respected international guard with big-game experience,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said in a statement released by the team. “She will bring us tremendous energy and enthusiasm on the court. She is a terrific leader on the Chinese national team and we look forward to that leadership impacting our locker room.”
Added Sparks general manager Karen Bryant: “She adds quickness, athleticism and international experience to our current roster.”