wnba

The Sparks worked on building their 2026 roster long before the WNBA’s compressed free agency period tipped off.

Teams have had a little more than a week to prepare their training camp rosters between free agency, the league’s primary draft and an expansion draft. The Sparks have one of the more notable roster transformations in the league, adding Nneka Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins.

On Sunday at the start of training camp in San Diego, Wheeler said Sparks returning guard Kelsey Plum sold her on the vision of the organization, and Ogwumike’s signing cemented it.

“KP played a big role in having me here,” she said, describing a lunch last season when Plum told Wheeler she wanted her to sign with the Sparks. “I think Nneka just was like the tip of the iceberg, like it was a no brainer. Once Nneka decides she wants to come here, because, as you know, president [of the WNBPA], life is always easier around her.

“We want to win the championship.”

Ogwumike’s return to Los Angeles was just one indicator that the Sparks are, as Wheeler put it, “going for gold.”

This year’s Sparks roster looks a lot more intentional than a couple of years ago. General manager Raegan Pebley said Atkins’ addition helps establish a deeper offense, while Rae Burrell playing at the three gives them more versatility.

There are still question marks. They don’t have a ton of ball-handling depth or much true-center play after Cameron Brink.

But Ogwumike has seen the changes internally and from afar, and she thinks the Sparks are ready to compete now.

“I didn’t actually want to leave, but I felt like I needed to, considering the growth that we wanted to see further in the organization, and I really wanted to come back,” she said. “… The timeline of a lot of things [in the offseason] accelerated, me narrowing down certain organizations, but L.A. was in the mix not because, not just because of the time that I’ve had here, but because of the amazing progress that I’ve seen in just the two years in my absence.”

Ogwumike said part of that was the investment in a practice facility, set to debut in 2027, and that the front office, led by Pebley, had a plan to build a winning team.

But the most important thing in bringing in the veteran trio was that the Sparks had a plan on the court, too.

“It’s really exciting when you can be in a place where everybody has the main thing being the main thing,” Atkins said. “And that’s not to say it wasn’t like that in the past, but it’s different when you have older players and vets around you that have done it before, because the way that they walk in, the way that they talk, there’s no uncertainty there, right? It’s like, this is how we need to get through, this is what we need to do, get it done so it really just be on us.”

Wheeler has only played in the WNBA postseason a handful of times between Indiana and Seattle and at 36 years old, she joined the Sparks led by coach Lynne Roberts with the intention of playing for a winner.

“I tell people all the time, I’m a businesswoman,” she said. “I have money. … So money don’t move me, [there] was a lot more money out there for me to go after. But I felt like Lynne is building a championship rock, and I want to be a part of that.”

Atkins was traded from Chicago for Rickea Jackson, a controversial move that shipped one of the best young players in the game away from the Sparks. On draft night, Pebley said the move helped them win games now and she reiterated that on Sunday.

“We were really aware of is that we were missing another counter punch with KP, she needed some support in terms of somebody that can take some pressure off of her, to have to score it, or to have to create for someone else to score it, that was a big reason of why Ariel, we feel, is a great fit,” she said. “And then Erica Wheeler is just a winner, and she’s going to bring some toughness and leadership there. So I think with those three at the one-two spot, we’re super excited about that.”

Atkins adds a defensive layer alongside Ogwumike for a team that was dead last in the WNBA in defensive points per game last season, and that’s one of those intentional, win-now kind of moves that has everyone in the organization excited.

The Sparks finished just two games out of a playoff spot last season. This year, expectations are far more than just finishing as a playoff team, and that messaging brought in one of the most cohesive rosters in the WNBA.

“I always say that the killer combination is investment and engagement, and so I’m seeing both at very high levels, and it permeates every aspect of the organization,” Ogwumike said. “Whether it’s basketball ops, front office, player experience, practice facility, it’s just something that I’ve always believed was our standard, and not only have we matched what our expectations were, but we’re now exceeding it in a timeline that I think is much faster than I ever expected.”

UCLA women’s basketball just keeps winning.

The latest edition of UCLA Unlocked was delayed one day so that we could include what turned out to be a magical, recording setting WNBA draft night for the Bruins.

UCLA set a WNBA draft record with five players selected in the first round and another draft record with six selected overall during the three-round draft Monday night in New York.

The Bruins rocked the orange carpet and then waited with UCLA coach Cori Close and their families to learn their draft fate.

UCLA Bruins Angela Dugalic, Kiki Rice, Gianna Kneepkens, Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez pose on the orange carpet at the WNBA draft in New York.

(Angelina Katsanis / Getty Images)

They didn’t wait long. Lauren Betts was first off the board, selected by the Washington Mystics with the No. 4 pick.

“These are like my sisters, and getting to watch your family do something like that is amazing,” Betts told the Associated Press. “But I mean, this team is just so special. We knew the type of players that we had on the team, and to really just have this night really showcase all of the things that we’ve worked on all season is just amazing.”

Gabriela Jaquez was next in line, getting drafted higher than expected when the Chicago Sky used the No. 5 pick to select her.

“Jaquez is a battle-tested three-level scorer who improved every year in college,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “Combine her on-skill talent with the fact that she’s a proven winner, and you have a player that perfectly fits the Sky’s vision.”

Next, Kiki Rice was selected No. 6 by the Toronto Tempo.

After a few gaps, Angela Dugalic was drafted at the No. 9 spot by the Mystics and Gianna Kneepkens was drafted at the No. 15 spot by the Connecticut Sun.

“We’re excited to welcome Gianna to our team,” Sun general manager Morgan Tuck said. “She’s experienced success UCLA within a winning culture and brings a mindset defined by toughness and consistency every time she steps on the floor on both ends. Her shooting ability is elite and truly sets her apart, but we’re equally impressed by the complete game she’s shown throughout her college career.”

UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 18 by the Connecticut Sun on Monday in New York.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

The WNBA made a ridiculous decision, opting not to officially invite the sixth member of UCLA’s super senior and graduate student class to the draft. Charlisse Leger-Walker went anyway as a guest and was the record sixth Bruin selected, getting drafted in the second round by the Sun with the No. 18 overall pick. She became the first player from New Zealand to ever be drafted.

Leger-Walker told reporters in New York that Dugalic gave up two of her seats at the draft so Leger-Walker and her mother could attend. For the record, Leger-Walker was picked ahead of one player the WNBA officially invited to New York.

“Given how critical the point guard position is, we’re thrilled to welcome Charlisse to our team,” Tuck said. “Her ability to push the pace while also running the offense and leading her teammates is something we truly value. She comes from a winning program, and her skill set, poise and basketball IQ position her game to translate seamlessly to the professional level.”

Close kept popping up to hug her stars and after a season of insisting the journey mattered more than the result, she conceded Monday night mattered.

“Well, I mean, I sort of do care about this one actually, because No. 1, it helps us in recruiting. I think we’ve really taken a developmental approach to this and to see it come to fruition the way it has is obviously really gratifying,” Close told the Associated Press.

“Just to be a part of an historic night and for them to be so excited for each other, that’s sort of representative of how they’ve been all year long. But it’s a pretty cool record to be a part of.”

Bob Chesney leads the UCLA football team in its first spring practice on April 2.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The UCLA-feel good energy hasn’t skipped the football program, with new coach Bob Chesney and his staff leading the Bruins through spring football workouts.

Here are three takeaways from the first five spring football practices:

1. No one is naming names.

It’s hard to get coaches or the two football players UCLA has made available for interviews so far this spring to volunteer the names of any players who have performed exceptionally well during spring practice.

“Yeah, um, I don’t want to name drop because I know I’m going to miss a couple, but I think the whole O-line and the whole receiver room collectively have been bringing it every practice and I’ve loved competing with them,” UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava told reporters when asked for his thoughts about the receivers and offensive linemen.

When he was asked who on the defense was making his life difficult, Iamaleava responded: “From the defense? You know, I’m not going to give them too much credit, but I think they do a good job of disguising their coverages.”

Safety Cole Martin was equally measured in his response when asked who were the toughest offensive players to cover.

“I feel like everybody just has their own skill set. You know, learning what they do good, what they don’t do well and trying to figure out how to beat them — ’cause, I mean, it’s spring ball,” Martin said.

The team held its first workout in full pads Saturday and it’s unlikely this embargo on identifying top performers will last forever, but an emphasis on wide open competition has been adopted by coaches and players.

2. Iamaleava is trying to stay on the field.

The quarterback said Saturday he weighs 218 pounds and hopes to reach 220 to 225 pounds by the season opener.

“I took a couple of hits last year and it took a toll on the body, but I think just me recovering over the offseason and coming in ready to work and getting bigger was the main thing for me this offseason,” he said. “So yeah, hopefully when I get to the season I’ll be able to take those hits a little easier.”

3. Martin and Iamaleava have fully embraced Chesney’s emphasis on winning on and off the field.

“How you live your life is going to correlate with how you are on the field,” Martin told reporters Saturday. “When you have great habits outside, you’re going to have great play on the field. Coach Chesney is big on making sure that we realize that you can’t live an average life and then go be amazing at football. Everything has to match up, so if it means that you gotta go to class super, super early or if you gotta wake up really, really early — or whatever that may mean for you and how that individual is — do that and your play on the field will correlate.”

Reddemann recognized

Logan Reddemann of UCLA tied a record with 18 strikeouts on Friday against Rutgers.

(Craig Weston)

UCLA junior right-handed pitcher Logan Reddemann swept weekly awards for his performance during the Bruins’ 4-1 win over Rutgers in 14 innings Friday night.

Reddemann earned Golden Spikes player of the week, College Baseball Foundation pitcher of the week, Perfect Game pitcher of the week and Big Ten pitcher of the week and was named to Baseball America’s team of the week. He delivered an NCAA single game record-tying 18 strikeouts over eight innings, leading a Bruins staff that totaled 30 strikeouts, one shy of the NCAA single-game record.

No. 1 UCLA will put its program record 27-game winning streak on the line when it hosts UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The game air on the Big Ten Network.

UCLA’s next national title?

UCLA senior Jordan Chiles shouts while competing on the floor exercise during the the meet against Utah.

(Jesus Ramirez / UCLA Athletics)

Is the Bruins’ gymnastics team is next in line to win a national title?

Jordan Chiles, an Olympic gold medalist and the NCAA West Region gymnast of the year, will lead UCLA during the NCAA gymnastics championships starting Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.

UCLA will compete in a semifinal against Oklahoma, Arkansas and Minnesota. The Bruins will start on the bars, then proceed to the beam, floor exercise and vault.

The top two teams advance to the finals Saturday against the top two teams from another semifinal featuring LSU, Stanford, Florida and Georgia.

UCLA’s semifinal begins at 6 p.m. Thursday and will air on ESPN2. The finals will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday and air on ABC.

Transfers help basketball teams reload

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have picked up transfers since the portal opened last week.

The women’s basketball team added North Carolina junior guard Elina Aarinsalo, senior TCU guard Donovyn Hunter and Arkansas sophomore guard Bonnie Deas.

Along with returner Timea Gardiner, the Bruins are starting to form a core to defend their national championship. Gardiner was a starter during UCLA’s 2024-25 Final Four run, but she missed all of this last season with an injury and has one season of eligibility left.

The men’s team has picked up commitments from Auburn forward Filip Jovic, Mississippi State forward Sergej Macura and Texas Tech transfer guard Jaylen Petty.

UCLA coach Mick Cronin also retained key pieces of his roster, including Trent Perry and Eric Dailey Jr.

In case you missed it

UCLA breaks WNBA draft records with five first-round picks and six overall

‘Coach Chesney is a winner.’ Nico Iamaleava and Cole Martin sold on Bruins’ new leader

Letters to Sports: Celebrating UCLA’s inspiring national title win

Logan Reddemann strikes out 18; No. 1 UCLA wins in 14 innings over Rutgers

UCLA women’s basketball lands first transfer since winning NCAA championship

‘L.A. cares about women’s basketball now’: UCLA celebrates its national championship

Sondheimer: Mira Costa High volleyball star Mateo Fuerbringer thrives when under pressure

Water spray, chaos and stress tests: Inside Bob Chesney’s UCLA practice philosophy

Here is who decimated national champion UCLA could target in the transfer portal

Plaschke: Aday Mara’s Michigan national title exposes UCLA coach Mick Cronin’s failure

UCLA women’s basketball players crown Cori Close as their champion

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

UCLA dominates WNBA draft

From Marisa Ingemi: The NCAA national champion UCLA women’s basketball team made history Monday night, with five players selected in the first round of the WNBA draft and six picked overall.

The first Bruin off the board was Lauren Betts, who went No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics.

Betts’ selection touched off a lengthy Bruins celebration in New York, with UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky and teammate Kiki Rice selected No. 6 by the expansion Toronto Tempo.

After a brief break, UCLA forward Angela Dugalic was selected with the No. 9 pick by the Washington Mystics, where she will join Betts.

UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens completed the Bruins’ record-setting first round when she was selected by the Connecticut Sun at No. 15.

The Bruins’ party continued, with Charlisse Leger-Walker selected with the No. 3 pick of the second round by the Sun.

Continue reading here

Sparks surprised, excited to land versatile South Carolina guard late in WNBA draft

Dodgers beat the Mets

From Maddie Lee: Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski threw a gem in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Mets on Monday.

He held the Mets to two hits in eight scoreless innings, the longest start of his pro career. He carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, with his defense backing up his efficient effort.

Shortstop Miguel Rojas fully laid out to his left in the second inning to field a sharp grounder off Bo Bichette’s bat, and then casually threw to first to complete the diving play. Third baseman Max Muncy made a leaping grab on Tyrone Taylor’s third-inning line drive.

Wrobleski made quick work of the rest.

Continue reading here

Whatever happened to Julio Urías? ‘Teams ask me about him all the time,’ agent says

Dodgers box score

MLB standings

Angels fall to Yankees

Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham both homered twice and the New York Yankees scored on a game-ending wild pitch in a three-run ninth inning to overcome Mike Trout’s two homers and five RBIs in an 11-10 win over the Angels on Monday night that stopped a five-game losing streak.

Judge and José Caballero each hit a two-run homer off Yusei Kikuchi for a 4-0 second-inning lead on an unseasonably warm 77-degree night, but Caballero’s error on Trout’s fourth-inning leadoff grounder to shortstop led to four unearned runs.

Grisham’s pinch-hit, three-run homer off Shaun Anderson lifted New York into a 7-4 lead in the fifth. Trout, like Judge a three-time AL MVP, tied the score again with a three-run drive in the sixth against Jake Bird.

Continue reading here

Angels box score

MLB standings

Kings clinch playoff spot

Quinton Byfield scored twice, Anton Forsberg made 28 saves and the Kings secured a playoff spot with Monday night’s 5-3 win over the Seattle Kraken.

Trevor Moore, Adrian Kempe and Alex Laferriere also scored for the Kings, who won their fifth straight and are playoff-bound for the fifth consecutive season.

With two games left, the Kings are in position for the second Western Conference wild card and fourth in the Pacific Division, just two points behind second-place Edmonton. The Kings’ victory, combined with Nashville’s loss to San José earlier Monday night, wrapped up their playoff spot and eliminated both the Predators and the Sharks.

Continue reading here

Kings summary

NHL standings

Jonathan Quick retires

From Chuck Schilken: New York Rangers goalkeeper Jonathan Quick is calling it a career after 19 NHL seasons and three Stanley Cup championships — with 16 of those seasons and two championships as a member of the Kings.

The 40-year-old goalie told reporters Monday that he would be playing in his final game that night, where the Rangers lost to the Florida Panthers, 3-2. It marked Quick’s 921st game appearance, counting playoffs.

“Tonight will be my last game in the league, and I am looking forward to it,” Quick said after the morning skate ahead at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. “My wife flew down with the kids, my parents will be here. I am looking forward to this last one, try to get one more win here.”

Selected by the Kings in the third round of the 2005 draft, Quick became a fixture in front of the net for L.A. during the 2008-09 season. He was a key member of the Kings’ Stanley Cup champion teams in 2012 and 2014, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs with a 16-4 record, a .946 save percentage and 1.41 goals-against average.

Continue reading here

Luka Doncic returns to L.A.

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: Luka Doncic will be back for the beginning of the Lakers’ playoff run. Just not on the court.

The Lakers’ superstar will rejoin the team by Friday after traveling to Spain to receive specialized treatment on his Grade 2 hamstring strain, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Times, but there is no timetable for Doncic’s return to the lineup.

Doncic suffered the injury in a game against Oklahoma City on April 2. A Grade 2 strain typically requires four to six weeks of recovery, but Doncic traveled to Europe to receive injections on his left hamstring with the hope of speeding up the recovery process.

The Lakers (53-29) face the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the first round on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. The fourth-seeded Lakers are looking for their first playoff series win since 2023.

They are underdogs without Doncic and guard Austin Reaves, who suffered a Grade 2 left oblique strain in the same game. Doncic led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game. Reaves, the team’s second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, was initially expected to miss four to six weeks with his injury, and is working hard to come back, a source told The Times. There is still no official timetable for his retur

Continue reading here

How do the Lakers match up against the Houston Rockets entering their playoff series?

Lakers playoff schedule

First round
All times Pacific

Saturday: Houston at Lakers, 5:30 p.m, ABC
Game 2: Houston at Lakers, TBD
Game 3: Lakers at Houston, TBD
Game 4: Lakers at Houston, TBD
*Game 5: Houston at Lakers, TBD
*Game 6: Lakers at Houston, TBD
*Game 7: Houston at Lakers, TBD

*-if necessary

Clippers playoff schedule

Wednesday vs. Golden State, 7:30 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Loser is eliminated, winner advances to second play-in game on Friday, where they will play the loser of the other play-in game. Winner of that game becomes the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

This day in sports history

1928 — The New York Rangers beat the Montreal Maroons for the Stanley Cup, 3-games-to-2.

1931 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup after trailing 2-games-to-1.

1941 — 45th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:30:38; his third victory in the event.

1948 — The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in four games as they beat the Detroit Red Wings 7-2.

1955 — Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings win back-to-back titles; beat Montreal Canadiens, 3-1 for a 4-3 series victory.

1960 — The Montreal Canadiens win their fifth straight Stanley Cup with a four-game sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs, including tonight’s 4-0 victory.

1962 — Elgin Baylor scores a record 61 points to lead the Lakers to a 126-121 triumph over the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals.

1968 — Bob Goalby wins the Masters when Roberto de Vincenzo of Argentina is penalized for signing an incorrect scorecard.

1974 — 38th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Gary Player wins the 2nd of his 3 Masters titles.

1985 — Bernhard Langer beats Curtis Strange, Ray Floyd and Seve Ballesteros by two strokes to win the Masters.

1991 — Ian Woosnam of Wales made a par putt to turn back Tom Watson on the last hole and capture the Masters.

1993 — The NHL’s longest winning streak ends at 17 games as the Pittsburgh Penguins settled for a 6-6 tie with the New Jersey Devils on a late goal by Joe Mullen.

1996 — The Detroit Red Wings wrap up the winningest season in NHL history by defeating Dallas 5-1. The Red Wings finished with 62 victories, beating the 60 wins of the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens.

1996 — Greg Norman shoots a startling 78 in the greatest collapse in Masters history, giving Nick Faldo his third green jacket and sixth major championship.

2002 — Tiger Woods becomes the third player to win back-to-back Masters titles. He closes with a 1-under 71 to claim a three-stroke victory over Retief Goosen.

2013 — Adam Scott becomes the first Australian to win the Masters, beating Angel Cabrera on the second hole of a playoff on a rainy day at Augusta National.

2016 — Breanna Stewart leads a UConn sweep of the first three picks in the WNBA draft, going first overall to the Seattle Storm. Moriah Jefferson went second to San Antonio and Morgan Tuck third to Connecticut, the first time in draft history that three players from the same school went 1-2-3. It’s a first in any major sport.

2019 — 83rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his 5th Masters title by 1 stroke from Xander Schauffele.

2024 — 88th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: World #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler beats Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg by 4 strokes for his second Masters win in 3 years

Compiled by the Associated Press

This day in baseball history

1910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.

1910 — Chicago’s Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.

1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A’s blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two out in the ninth.

1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.

1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.

1925 — In the first regular-season Chicago Cubs game to be broadcast on the radio, Quin Ryan announces the contest from the grandstand roof for WGN.

1931 — Jack Quinn of the Brooklyn Robins becomes the oldest pitcher to start an Opening Day game at 47 years old.

1961 — The “new” Washington Senators franchise wins its first game, defeating the Cleveland Indians, 3-2.

1964 — Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax throws his ninth complete game without allowing a walk.

1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees’ only hit in a 3-0 loss to the Red Sox.

1969 — The first major league game outside the United States was played in Montreal’s Jarry Park with the Expos defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7.

1976 — In the 6th inning of today’s 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs, Mets’ Dave Kingman hits what will become widely regarded as the longest home run ever hit in Wrigley Field, estimated at 600 feet.

1991 — Nolan Ryan becomes the 12th pitcher in major league history to surpass 5,000 innings pitched.

1999 — John Franco struck out the side in the ninth inning of the New York Mets’ 4-1 win over the Florida Marlins, becoming only the second pitcher to reach 400 saves. The only reliever with more saves than Franco is Lee Smith, who retired with 478.

2004 — A day after Yankees teammate Mike Mussina earned his 200th victory, Kevin Brown reaches the same plateau.

2005 — Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield got into a brief scuffle with a fan along the right-field fence at Fenway Park during New York’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

2010 — Jorge Cantu homered, making him the first player in major league history to have at least one hit and one RBI in each of his team’s first nine games, and the Florida Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3.

2014 — Neil Walker and Gaby Sanchez hit back-to-back homers twice, and the Pirates and Reds combined for 10 homers in only six innings before rain forced a suspension. Pittsburgh had three sets of back-to-back homers, only the third time that’s happened in major league history. The NL Central rivals completed the game the next day. Andrew McCutchen doubled and came around on Russell Martin’s single in the seventh inning, giving the Pirates an 8-7 win.

2016 — Bryce Harper makes the 100th home run of his career his first-ever grand slam.

2017 — The Braves open their new ballpark, SunTrust Park, with a 5-2 win over the Padres before a sellout crowd of 41,149.

2021 — Carlos Rodon of the White Sox throws the second no-hitter of the season, blanking the Indians, 8-0.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

The Sparks might have gotten the steal of the WNBA draft.

The team didn’t have a pick until the No. 21 overall slot in the second round, but the Sparks still ended up with South Carolina guard Ta’Niya Latson.

“She can shoot it, she can get to the basket, she’s great in transition,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “That’s something we really needed. We’re excited about her defense. She’s really good on ball, but you know, she’s a winner and we’re just excited. It’s hard as a rookie, especially at that point guard spot, to adapt. But I’m expecting her to be a great addition to our squad.”

Latson led the nation in scoring with 25.4 points per game for Florida State during the 2024-25 season before transferring to South Carolina, where she scored 14.1 points and shot a career-high 48.6% from the floor this season for the national championship game runner-up Gamecocks.

After averaging 21 or more points per game during the last three seasons at Florida State, Latson went to South Carolina coach Dawn Staley’s team to learn to share the ball and play strong defense.

Latson took a career-low 10.3 shots per game but shot a career best field-goal percentage.

“She took on a different role in terms of, that team had two other first-round draft picks from that roster playing with that South Carolina team,” Roberts said. “And so we watched her closely. Our draft model and everything had her a lot higher than 20. And so we were excited that she was still there.”

Latson fills a direct need for the Sparks, who even after signing veteran Erica Wheeler this week still lacked some guard depth off the bench.

South Carolina guard Ta’Niya Latson drives to the basket in front of USC guard Kara Dunn at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 15.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“Having vets like Kelsey Plum and Erica Wheeler around a young guard like that is a tremendous opportunity for her,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said. “She’ll soak up everything that they have to teach her. …. This is a great offense for her to excel in and to be great in and shine. So I think the table is set for Latson, I think, to have some success in her rookie year.”

The Sparks later selected Chance Gray from Ohio State with the No. 24 pick. That pick was acquired from Seattle in the Plum trade last year. Gray averaged 14.7 points in 35 games for the Buckeyes while shooting 45.3% from the field and 40.5% from three-point range.

In the third round, the Sparks took Amelia Hassett at No. 35 overall from Kentucky. Hassett is a stretch center who shot 36.1% from three on 7.6 attempts per game. She averaged 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with the Wildcats.

The Sparks are pushing to contend for a playoff spot this season after bringing back veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike and guards Ariel Atkins and Wheeler to build one of their deepest rosters in years.

Latson has a chance to get some playing time, while Gray could challenge for an end-of-the-bench spot and Hassett has a niche that could get her minutes in the league.

“We want to have sustained success,” Roberts said. “We want to win championships, and this isn’t a slow roll, like we want to do it. And so you have to have that balance of youth and experience, and I think our roster has nailed that.”

The first UCLA player off the WNBA draft board Monday night was Lauren Betts, who went No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics.

Betts’ selection touched off a lengthy Bruins celebration in New York, with UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky and UCLA guard Kiki Rice selected No. 6 by expansion team Toronto Tempo.

After a brief break, UCLA forward Angela Dugalic was next in line. She was selected with the No. 9 pick by the Washington Mystics, where she will join Betts.

It is the second time the same college had four players selected in the first round. The last time was in 2002 when UConn had four first-round draft picks.

Betts averaged 17.1 points per game, 8.8 rebounds and shot 58.2% from the field as a senior in the Bruins’ national championship run. She was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, was an AP All-American First Team and Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

“I play with joy,” Betts said on ESPN after she was drafted. “This season has been so joyful. … You can see all the positivity that I play with.”

UCLA center Lauren Betts poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 4 by the Washington Mystics Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

She also joined her former Stanford teammate and USC rival Kiki Iriafen, who was a first-round pick last year.

“It’s been amazing, I’ve grown so much, my confidence, I’ve owned who I am as a player and a person,” Betts said.

Jaquez spent all four seasons with UCLA and was one of the most improved players in the nation en route to helping the Bruins win a national title. She averaged 13.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and shot 53.9% from the field and 39% from three-point range.

“I’m so excited to be here, I think having these dreams of going to UCLA and going to the WNBA and to achieve them not only by myself, but with my teammates means everything,” she told ESPN.

UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky on Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and was an All-Big Ten second team selection.

“Going into every game and doing what the team needs,” she said about how she wanted to contribute to Chicago. “I’m going into training camp ready to learn, being a sponge and being myself and working hard.”

Rice played four seasons for the Bruins and scored 14.9 points per game with 5.9 rebounds last season while picking up 4.3 assists and averaging a 49% from the field. She was named an AP third-team All-American, was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and was on the Big Ten First Team and all-Defensive team.

“I take a ton of pride in being the best teammate and figuring out how to make everyone better around me,” she told ESPN. “Really excited to get to work and meet everyone. It’s going to be really important to have great leadership.”

UCLA guard Kiki Rice poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 6 by the Toronto Tempo on Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

Rice was grateful so many UCLA players got a chance to celebrate getting selected.

“This is so special,” she said. “Every one of us here deserves it so much.”

Dugalic came off the bench last season as the Bruins’ sixth player after starting the previous two seasons. In her role, she was one of the most steady veteran players in the country.

“That’s gonna be great,” Dugalic said to ESPN of playing with Betts. “I’m super excited for that. That will be a smooth transition, playing with her.”

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 9 by the Washington Mystics on Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

The Big Ten Sixth Player of the year averaged 9.0 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and shot 50.2% from the field. She can shoot from range at 32.6% and is a tough perimeter defender and can bang in the post at 6-foot-4.

Earlier in the draft, UConn guard Azzi Fudd was selected by Dallas Wings with the No. 1 overall pick. Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the No. 2 pick. Awa Fam Thiam, who played in Spain, was selected by the Seattle Storm with the No. 3 pick.

In between UCLA picks, Iyana Martín Carrión, of Spain, was selected No. 7 overall by the Portland Fire. LSU star Flau’jae Johnson was selected No. 8 by the Golden State Valkyries.

South Carolina’s Raven Johnson was selected No. 10 by the Indiana Fever. Ole Miss’ Cotie McMahon was selected No. 11 by the Washington Mystics. Nell Angloma, of France, was selected No. 12 by the Connecticut Sun. South Carolina’s Madina Okot was selected No. 13 by the Atlanta Dream. Duke’s Taina Mair was selected No. 14 by the Seattle Storm.

The Sparks are idle in the first round and will make picks in the second and third rounds.

Check back for more updates throughout the draft.

This year’s WNBA draft is bigger than ever with two expansion teams joining the league. It’s also a top-heavy draft, with a ton of depth in the first round and no clear first overall pick.

This is also the first year teams will be selecting talent knowing players can be signed to two developmental roster spots per team that don’t count against the salary cap, which might change the way teams use their picks.

The Sparks don’t pick until the mid-second round, but they should have options to help address depth needs. Here’s how the draft is projected to unfold.

First round

1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam | C | Spain | 6-foot-4

This is one of the first years in recent memory without an obvious No. 1 overall pick. Fam could go anywhere from first to fourth, but the 19-year-old would benefit from an environment where she doesn’t have to dominate right away. The Wings also need size.

2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles | G | TCU | 5-foot-10

The Texas Christian star nearly averaged a triple-double during the Horned Frogs’ Elite Eight run and she is the best point guard in this draft. Minnesota needs backcourt depth.

UConn guard Azzi Fudd dribbles up the court during Sweet 16 game against North Carolina on March 27 in Fort Worth, Texas.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd | G | Connecticut | 5-foot-11

Fudd’s stock might have dropped because of an underwhelming NCAA tournament, but she is still a pro-ready offensive threat who will get playing time with a rebuilding Storm squad.

4. Washington Mystics: Flau’jae Johnson | G | LSU | 6-foot

Johnson could join an up-and-coming Washington squad as a three-level scorer who can play defense as a two-way guard. With second-year player Sonia Citron already ahead of her at her position, the Mystics can develop Johnson.

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice | G | UCLA | 5-foot-11

The Sky need a guard who can score and defend, and with Courtney Vandersloot out to start the season, Rice might get some early playing time. She can rebound and scrap for loose balls too, and with Ariel Atkins reportedly being traded, Rice could play a big role.

6. Toronto Tempo: Lauren Betts | C | UCLA | 6-foot-7

Betts could become one of the faces of the new franchise as a starting center. She is a pro-ready post scorer who can continue to develop defensively and play against bigger players.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson during the NCAA championship game on April 4.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

7. Portland Fire: Nell Angloma | F | France | 5-foot-11

Angloma needs time to develop, but general manager Vanja Cernivec has seen her plenty. She is a physical guard who has proven she can score against much older players.

8. Golden State Valkyries: Gabriela Jaquez | F | UCLA | 6 feet

Jaquez can score and win rebounds and would fit in well with the Valkyries’ scrappy style. She fits in a clear role and is the type of player coach Natalie Nakase and company prefer to draft. Jaquez could have some electric games off the bench.

9. Washington: Iyana Martín Carrion | G | Spain | 5-foot-9

With three first-round picks, the Mystics could consider a draft-and-stash here, and that might just be Carrion. She’s a good shooter and passer and plays bigger than her size. They can be patient and develop her into a starting point guard in a few years.

10. Indiana Fever: Madina Okot | C | South Carolina | 6-foot-6

Indiana can add the third-best center in the draft early here and get a physical player who can create space on the floor as long as she can assert herself in the post.

11. Washington: Raven Johnson | G | South Carolina | 5-foot-9

Johnson’s defensive ability and facilitating skills make her one of the most WNBA-ready players in the draft. Her shutdown defense on Sarah Strong in the Final Four showed she can handle tough assignments.

12. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon | F | Mississippi | 6-foot

McMahon could get early playing time as a ballhandler for a Sun team in transition that needs versatility. She can make her own shot and slot in wherever Connecticut needs her.

UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez dribble past Carolina Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards during the NCAA women’s championship on April 4.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

13. Atlanta Dream: Ta’Niya Latson | G | South Carolina | 5-foot-8

There was a time when Latson was the best scorer in the college game, and she could join an Atlanta team building both to win now and for a future run. She wouldn’t be relied on too heavily, which would give her room to develop as a scorer at the pro level.

14. Seattle: Marta Suarez | F | TCU | 6-foot-3

Suarez may have seen her WNBA draft stock rise the most this season, her first at TCU, where she led the Horned Frogs to a Sweet 16 game in which she scored 33 points. She’s an older prospect at 24 but still kind of raw. She could help a Storm team trying to find itself.

15. Connecticut: Gianna Kneepkens | G | UCLA | 5-foot-11

Kneepkens is a shooter who can play decent defense and is likely as WNBA-ready as anyone in this first round. She could jump in off the bench and make some serious shots, developing into a starter pretty quickly.

Second round

16. Seattle: Frieda Buhner | G | Spain | 6-foot-2

A big guard, Buhner can shoot the three-ball when she’s at her best, collect rebounds and bang in the post.

17. Portland: Jessica Timmons | G | Alabama | 5-foot-8

Timmons had a breakout year for Alabama as an All-SEC player. She can create her own offense and hit shots.

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic shoots over South Carolina forward Joyce Edwards during the NCAA championship on April 4 in Phoenix.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

18. Connecticut: Angela Dugalic | F | UCLA | 6-foot-4

At 24, Dugalic will be one of the more experienced rookies in the WNBA, which could help mold a Sun team in transition. A tough interior presence who also can shoot from distance, Dugalic was arguably the best bench player in the nation during UCLA’s title run.

19. Washington: Shay Ciezki | G | Indiana | 5-foot-7

After averaging 22.8 points per game, Ciezki proved she can score in a variety of ways. She is undersized but could get time to develop on the young Mystics.

20. Sparks: Charlisse Leger-Walker | G | UCLA | 5-foot-8

The first pick for the Sparks of this draft, they stay close to home and get a much-needed ballhandler who can hang defensively. Leger-Walker went from a flashy three-point scorer at Washington State to a well-rounded player who can add energy to the Sparks’ bench.

21. Chicago: Yarden Garzon | G | Maryland | 6-foot-3

Garzon did not have a great senior campaign with Maryland, but Chicago needs guard depth, and she has size and can shoot from distance.

UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker slips past Minnesota guard Tori McKinney and scores on March 27 in Sacramento.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

22. Toronto: Janiah Barker | F | Tennessee | 6-foot-4

A 6-4 forward who can shoot, Barker has plenty of talent but moved around a lot in her college career. Toronto can be patient with her.

23. Golden State: Serah Williams | C| UConn | 6-foot-4

The Valkyries might need some size with Monique Billings moving on and Temi Fagbenle’s future unclear.

24. Sparks: Teoni Key | F | Kentucky | 6-foot-5

Key would give the Sparks some size off the bench behind Cameron Brink, Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby. Key is more physical than Brink and could give her a bit of a break in the post.

25. Indiana: Ashlon Jackson | G | Duke | 6-foot

Jackson had perhaps the most iconic shot of the NCAA tournament with her game-winner in the Sweet 16 over Louisiana State with 2.5 seconds left.

Michigan State forward Grace VanSlooten dribbles the ball during a game against Washington on Jan. 8.

(Stephen Brashear / Associated Press)

26. Toronto: Grace VanSlooten | G | Michigan State | 6-foot-3

An elite two-point shooter for the Spartans, VanSlooten has a high motor on the offensive side and can play a quick defensive game.

27. Phoenix Mercury: Rori Harmon | G | Texas | 5-foot-6

As an undersized but scrappy guard, underestimate Harmon at your own risk. One of the peskiest point-of-attack defenders in the country, Harmon was named to four all-defense teams during her time at Texas.

28. Atlanta: Dari Littlepage-Buggs | F | Baylor | 6-foot-1

A strong rebounder who can move the ball upcourt, Littlepage-Buggs is worth a pick to see how she might adapt to the WNBA. She is someone whom the developmental slots might help a lot.

29. Las Vegas Aces: Maggie Doogan | F | Richmond | 6-foot-2

The Aces already have a core in place, but Doogan has enough upside to be worth a late-round pick as a reliable bench shooter.

30. Washington: Justine Pissott | F | Vanderbilt | 6-foot-4

Another versatile player, Pissott was a part of a dynamic Vanderbilt offense this season. She can space the floor and add depth to the Mystics.

Third round

31. Dallas: Laila Phelia | F | Syracuse | 6-foot

Phelia is a solid defensive forward who can shoot well for her position.

32. Chicago: Tonie Morgan | G | Kentucky | 5-foot-9

Morgan is a terrific passer who can attack downhill.

Texas center Kyla Oldacre shoots over UCLA center Lauren Betts during a Final Four game on April 3 in Phoenix.

(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

33. Connecticut: Kyla Oldacre | C | Texas | 6-foot-6

This would be a pure depth pick after the Sun added Brittney Griner.

34. Washington: Kara Dunn | G | USC | 5-foot-11

Dunn has averaged better than 15 points per game during each of her last three seasons (two at Georgia Tech and one at USC) and been efficient in doing so, most recently shooting 57.3% from the field and 37.8% from three-point range.

35. Sparks: Jalyn Brown | G | Michigan State | 6-foot-1

An incredibly efficient shooter, Brown has size and is a three-level scorer who has been a top perimeter defender in the Big 12 and Big Ten. She is a true wing and could give the Sparks a developmental player with a high floor.

36. Toronto: Lani White | F | Utah | 6-foot

White started for only one season but showed she can shoot from distance and give the Tempo another forward to build their bench depth.

USC guard Kara Dunn dribbles up the court during a game against Saint Mary’s at the Galen Center on Dec. 2.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

37. Portland: Raegan Beers | C | Oklahoma | 6-foot-4

For a while, Beers was one of the most interesting prospects in the college game. She proved she can be an efficient scorer when she went from Oregon State to Oklahoma. Her offense is far ahead of her defense, though.

38. Golden State: Elle Ladine | G | Washington | 5-foot-11

A San Francisco native, Ladine, when she is on, can be a dynamic three-way scorer.

39. Seattle: Saffron Shiels | G | Australia | 6-foot-2

A big guard who could be a late-round steal because of an ankle injury last season.

40. Indiana: Jordan Harrison | G | West Virginia | 5-foot-6

Harrison is undersized but was a good defender in the Big 12. She can facilitate and cause havoc on the court too.

41. New York Liberty: Hannah Stuelke | F | Iowa | 6-foot-2

This is the Liberty’s only pick, and Stuelke is a tough rebounder who has a high upside.

Notre Dame guard Cassandre Prosper drives to the basket under pressure from UConn guard Azzi Fudd during an Elite Eight game on March 29.

(LM Otero / Associated Press)

42. Phoenix: Cassandre Prosper | C | Notre Dame | 6-foot-3

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s most improved player, Prosper can score and rebound while also being surprisingly quick for her size in the frontcourt.

43. Atlanta: Laura Ziegler | F | Louisville | 6-foot-2

An All-ACC first-team player for an underrated Louisville team, Ziegler can pass and make threes.

44. Las Vegas: Mya Perry | G | Cincinnati | 5-foot-11

A 17.8-point scorer, Perry is a three-point shooter who could earn a developmental slot.

45. Minnesota: Madison St. Rose | G | Princeton | 5-foot-10

St. Rose led Princeton in scoring and could be worth a shot as a developmental player.

Mark Jones has been an on-air staple on ESPN since the first Bush administration — as in George H.W. Bush, who served from 1989 to 1992.

So, yeah, it’s been a long time.

And now, Jones says, “it’s time to move on.”

Jones’ final ESPN broadcast will be Sunday, when he will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics game on the final day of the NBA’s regular season. It could very well be the last time the phrase “hotter than fish grease” is uttered on the network.

“It’s been a memorable journey these decades with the ABC/ESPN family, but I have decided that it’s time to move on,” Jones wrote in a statement posted Friday on Instagram. “From the day Dennis Swanson hired me in 1990 and working with the best producer in the business, Kim Belton, until today I will forever be grateful for the many friends and colleagues along the way.”

Jones, 64, started at ESPN in 1990. As a play-by-play announcer, he is best known for calling NBA games but he has also covered college football, men’s and women’s college basketball, the WNBA and UFL. On June 2, 2022, Jones, Mark Jackson and Lisa Salters were the first all-Black crew to call an NBA Finals game on TV.

In addition, Jones has hosted the “NBA Today” studio show and been an anchor and reporter on “SportsCenter.”

“Mark has made an enduring impact at ESPN since 1990, serving as a signature voice primarily within our NBA and college football coverage and across nearly all of our platforms,” ESPN said in a statement. “We’re grateful for Mark’s countless contributions and we wish him continued success.”

Separate from his work at ESPN, Jones has also been the primary TV play-by-play announcer for the Sacramento Kings since 2020.

Jones hasn’t indicated what he’ll be doing next, but he ended his announcement with a big prediction for the future — and threw in his signature phrase for good measure.

“As I move on to my next chapter I believe my best work is yet to come,” he wrote. “I’ll be out there cookin’ hotter than fish grease!”

Angel Reese has a message for Atlanta Dream fans: ATL Barbie is here to stay.

The two-time WNBA All-Star told People on Tuesday that she was excited when she learned she had been traded to the organization after spending her first two seasons with the Chicago Sky.

“The team has welcomed me so much, the atmosphere, the culture. … I’m so excited to be in A-Town,” Reese told the outlet. The two teams announced the trade Monday, the first day of free agency following the ratification of a new, historic collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and its players union in March.

The excitement appears to be mutual. Shortly after the trade was announced, the Dream online store had made Reese’s new jersey available for purchase. They sold out so quickly that Reese’s mother posted on social media that even she was unable to snag one in time. (Don’t worry, the Dream’s social media team has her covered).

Reese is a bonafide star on and off the court. A known fashion icon, the Dream forward was in New York on Tuesday to help launch Victoria Secret’s new “The Season of Strapless” campaign. It’s the first time the lingerie and loungewear brand has tapped a WNBA player to star in one of its campaigns.

The collaboration follows Reese’s runway debut at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in October, where she was the first professional athlete ever to walk the show. She’s also set to appear in the second season of “The Hunting Wives.”

At the Tuesday event, Reese had a message for Dream fans.

“Atlanta, what up? ATL barbie is in town and I am here to stay,” she told People.

Reese was selected seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Sky after a standout college career that included winning the NCAA championship title with Louisiana State in 2023. She has led the WNBA in rebounding in both of her seasons so far and has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds overall.

Reese also shared a message to Chicago fans on Instagram on Monday after her trade was announced.

“To the city of Chicago, you showed me real love from day one,” Reese says over a video montage of highlights of her time as a Sky player. “Thank you Chicago. Always, Chi-Town Barbie.”

The Sky went 23-61 after drafting Reese, including 10-34 last season (1-13 in games without Reese) and missing the playoffs for a second straight year.

Angel Reese has a new WNBA home.

After spending her first two seasons with the Chicago Sky, the two-time All Star has been traded to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, the teams announced Monday morning. Atlanta also receives the option to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.

“An Angel’s DREAM,” Reese posted on X. “ATL WHAT UP?!”

Reese was already a star before coming to the WNBA after helping Louisiana State win the national championship over Caitlin Clark and Iowa in 2023 and leading the Tigers back to the Elite Eight the following year.

Selected by Chicago with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft, Reese finished as runner-up to Clark in rookie-of-the-year voting and led the league in rebounds per game in each of her first two seasons. Overall, she has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds a game.

The Sky have gone 23-61 and missed the playoffs both seasons since drafting Reese. On Sept. 3, the Chicago Tribune published quotes from the star player that indicated her frustration with the team’s inability to build a winning roster and an inclination to leave if the organization isn’t able to get it right.

“I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” Reese told the Tribune.

After the Sky’s 88-64 victory over the Connecticut Sun that night, Reese told reporters she had apologized to her teammates about the article.

“I think the language is taken out of context,” she said, “and I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates, because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year. They’ve busted their ass, just how I bust my ass, they showed up for me through thick and thin, and in the locker room when nobody could see anything.”

Reese did not play for Chicago again. She was suspended half a game for her comments, which were deemed “detrimental to the team,” served a separate mandatory one-game suspension by the WNBA for receiving eight technical fouls during the season and missed the final three games of the season with what was listed as a back injury.

The Sky said in a statement Monday that the “trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties.”

“Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky,” the team wrote. “We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond.”

Reese joins an Atlanta team that went 30-14 and finished first in the Eastern Conference before losing to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs. The roster includes Allisha Gray, who finished fourth in the MVP voting last season, as well as sixth player of the year Naz Hillmon and All-Star Brionna Jones.

“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said in a statement. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

In less than two months, six UCLA women’s basketball players might be working out with WNBA teams. The draft is April 13, a week after the NCAA national championship game, and the season starts less than a month later.

One of the most consequential pieces of the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement for current college players, including the UCLA super senior class, is expanded rosters.

Not only are two new teams — Portland and Toronto — entering the WNBA this season and adding 24 roster spots, but the new CBA will allow each team to have 12 traditional roster spots and two developmental player spots.

The new developmental players will get housing assistance and can practice and travel with their respective WNBA squads.

UCLA’s Charlisse Leger-Walker, left, and Angela Dugalic, back, swarm California Baptist forward Grace Schmidt during an NCAA tournament game at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Across the country during the NCAA tournament, players and coaches have noted how much the new WNBA CBA changes the future for the next generation of players.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley noted to reporters last week that it’s one of the first times many women’s basketball players will be able to accumulate generational wealth. And they can do so without necessarily having to play in other leagues around the world during the WNBA offseason.

“The WNBA will make you make a choice because you have to be on time in training camp.” Staley said. “It’s worth it now. It’s worth it to actually have your body recover and just play in the WNBA season.”

Last season, just 20 rookies made rosters out of training camp. The fight for those spots might get more competitive for some young players now that the league offers higher salaries and some high-end international players might find it more worthwhile to sign in the WNBA.

Teams are now required to roster 12 players, compared with the option to have 11 instead of 12 under the previous CBA, which allowed franchises to spend more on top players and have less of a cap hit by triming their roster size.

But likely, more players who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten looks or would have been cut during past training camps will now have a realistic shot a developmental player spot.

“I just feel a lot of pride,” said UCLA sixth-year forward Angela Dugalic. “Because of them, I’m able to have a lot of things that they maybe weren’t able to have at the start of their career. And some of them, like, they’re either at the end of their career or they’re even finished right now, they’re still fighting for us.”

The entire UCLA starting lineup — Charlisse Leger-Walker, Kiki Rice, Lauren Betts, Gianna Kneepkens and Gabriela Jaquez, plus Dugalic off the bench — project as WNBA picks, most as early as the first round.

Kneepkens or Leger-Walker (though she was recovering from an ACL injury) would have been WNBA draft-eligible after last season. Their rookie salaries would have been around $70,000, depending on where they were selected. This year, the rookie minimum will be $270,000, and top picks, which Betts and Rice are projected to be, will make as much as $500,000.

“Just like the growth we’re even experiencing now in college, we have so many people before us to thank that. [They] fought for better exposure and TV rights … fought for Title IX and resources to be allocated appropriately,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “I think it’s similar right now in terms of the CBA. We need to really thank the people in that room that fought hard.”

UCLA guard Kiki Rice dribbles up the floor under pressure from California Baptist guard Filipa Barros Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

UCLA players are understandably locked in on the NCAA tournament, but they haven’t ignored an important moment.

“I think it’s awesome for women’s basketball and the progress going forward,” Leger-Walker said. “I love that we have players who are willing to advocate and really stand on what they believe in. We’re making steps forward.”

Where they all fit on individual teams or in respective mock drafts will all be more clear after free agency begins in the week ahead of the draft. Around 80% of the league are free agents, so there are going to be plenty of new-look teams.

UCLA players will soon get a chance to join those roster makeovers under working conditions past players never enjoyed.

“I’m just grateful for all the women who fought for what they’ve earned,” Kneepkens said. “That’s just super cool for anyone that’s a WNBA fan and anyone that’s part of it. They made this happen.”

The WNBA will likely get an injection of UCLA talent. One of the players most equipped to make an impact right away, it turns out, might be Kiki Rice.

Some mock drafts have the senior guard as high as being picked No. 5 overall after concerns she might fall out of the first round entirely before this season.

After a career-best season, though, Rice is one of the top prospects in a loaded class. That wasn’t a given after taking a step back in all statistics other than shooting last season.

The No. 1 seed Bruins are hoping to ride that to a national title, with the next step coming Saturday against No. 16 seed California Baptist in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice shoots over Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge during the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament on March 7 in Indianapolis.

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

WNBA scouts are hoping Rice proves she can be one of the best early first-round investments in the league.

“The work she did on her mentality, film study, with leadership, using her voice, working on her handles, I just think it’s her commitment to the details,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “I’m not surprised that she’s playing this way because of the intentional work that she puts in.”

A Big Ten All-Defensive Team and unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection this season, Rice is averaging career highs in points (15.3), rebounds (6.0) and shooting percentage (50.4%). Her assist numbers have dropped since the addition of Charlisse Leger-Walker, but that’s allowed Rice to create her own offense.

“I think one of the things that Kiki’s been able to do is have different kinds of scoring catches this year because of Charlisse’s presence on our team,” Close said. “But I do think the biggest thing has probably been her passing, her facilitation, as well as her ability to shoot.”

WNBA scouts have taken notice, too. One evaluator said her ability to play with a “group of weapons” has set herself up to be taken seriously for a larger role even as a rookie. For a long time, among those scouting in the league, she was viewed as a potential backup point guard, but her shooting ability and defensive consistency has made her a more complete prospect.

Her 2.2 defensive win shares are third in the Big Ten and her 83.0 defensive rating is seventh.

“I worked a ton of [defense] in the offseason and really stepped up to the challenge of guarding the other team’s best perimeter player,” Rice said. “I think me being challenged in that way, it’s been a really great area of growth, and that’s probably the area that I’m most proud of.”

Rice’s improvement from the three-point line is a big one for WNBA scouts. She improved her deep shot from 21.7% to 38.1% across four seasons.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice steals the ball from Washington guard Chloe Briggs at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 19.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

That, plus her defensive prowess and ability to play point guard and more of a loose guard role, have helped her WNBA stock rise tremendously.

“Defensively has been probably the most impactful growth thing that she’s had,” Close said. “But Kiki — people don’t realize she was out for six months. She had surgery on April 15th last year and was out for six months.”

Rice was injured at the start of last season and then underwent right shoulder surgery right after the Final Four. Despite the injury, she played in 34 games last season, averaging 12.8 points and 5.0 assists per game.

Rice won the Big Ten tournament’s most outstanding player award after UCLA thrashed Iowa by 51 points in the championship. She averaged 16.6 points and 5.3 assists during three Big Ten tournament games.

Her numbers might be even better if she were the team’s top offensive option, like Hannah Hidalgo with Notre Dame. Instead, she is sharing time with other top WNBA prospects such as Lauren Betts, Gianna Kneepkens and Leger-Walker.

“What I love most is she’s one of the most selfless people I’ve ever played with,” Betts said of Rice. “She really could [not] care less about all of the attention. She just wants to win games. She’s always there for her teammates. I’m so grateful I get to be her teammate and her friend. She’s amazing.”

In addition to her three-point shot improvement, around 60% of her points still come in the paint from driving to the basket, making her a threat all over the floor.

“There were lots of times in previous years where Kiki could get downhill, but we didn’t have the court spacing because we didn’t have the quality of shooting that allowed those driving lanes to take place,” Close said.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice shoots over USC guard Malia Samuels at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 3.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

The biggest question with Rice is whether her three-point shooting can scale to a higher volume in the WNBA, where guards are more likely to shoot from deep than be relied on in the post. She has never taken more than 2.7 attempts per game.

Part of that is because there are so many options from three-point range that Rice doesn’t have to be the primary shooter. Kneepkens is making 44.2% of her three-pointers and Gabriela Jaquez has hit 41.1% while Leger-Walker is shooting 36.4% from range.

That hasn’t affected Rice’s efficiency, though.

“I think this year the way that we moved the ball and everyone gets touches is so important for everyone and allows me to be successful,” Rice said.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice celebrates with teammates as she’s handed the Big Ten tournament most outstanding player trophy on March 8 in Indianapolis.

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

With the way the draft order falls, Rice is likely to end up with either an expansion team or a team that struggled last season, such as Washington or Chicago. That might mean she’ll need to step in and produce in her first season as a pro.

That is why her stock has risen so much this season — she’s shown she has the versatility to do what is needed.

“Kiki has been playing the best basketball of her career,” Close said. “I think she has put in the work. She knows what she’s earned, and she’s sort of ‘that girl’ for us.”

After 17 months, the WNBA has agreed to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement and players will be paid more than in any other professional American women’s sports league.

It is the latest in a trend of increasing equity for women athletes.

• In 2022, the U.S. women’s soccer team won a $24-million settlement with U.S. Soccer after players disputed making significantly less than the less successful men’s team.
• Then the Professional Women’s Hockey League was born in 2023 following many players defecting from the National Women’s Hockey League to form the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Assn., then merging with the Premier Hockey Federation until a historic bargaining agreement.
• The National Women’s Soccer League announced a new CBA in the summer of 2024 that included giving players agency on where they are traded and abolishing expansion and collegiate drafts.

That momentum put considerable pressure on WNBA negotiations. Could the players set a new benchmark for future contract negotiations across women’s pro sports leagues?

The Sky’s Angel Reese and the Fever’s Caitlin Clark shake hands before a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17.

(Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

The WNBA’s CBA was a flashpoint because of the boom in popularity in supporting women’s sports, with players such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese becoming household names. Last season, the WNBA made enough revenue to trigger revenue-sharing for the first time and this season marks the start the league’s new 11-year, $2.2-billion media rights deal.

Unlike in the NBA, where players get around 50% of the league’s revenue before expenses, the WNBA’s first revenue-sharing kicked in only after the league hit a benchmark determined by a formula of revenue targets, which had been difficult to achieve since the start of the deal was the 2020 COVID season played in front of empty stands.

The WNBA broke its single-season attendance record in 2025. As league interest grew, so did the tension between the league and the players’ union.

Many viewed this negotiating cycle as an opportunity to pounce on the increased visibility, and in a lot of ways, the union did. Players are going to be paid significantly more and they got a win in revenue sharing, earning 20% of the league’s revenue before expenses — a big jump from the previous 9% share.

The average player salary before revenue-share payments will be around $584,000.

But was it as much as they should have gotten?

Tamika Tremaglio, former NBPA executive director and advisor to the WNBPA during the 2020 CBA negotiations, said observers were less concerned about the start of training camps looming on April 19 and more focused on whether negotiations would end with a stable deal that would hold for the length of the agreement as market conditions evolve. Increased salaries are always celebrated, but both sides agreeing to a new revenue sharing model was a consequential step forward for players.

“The real story is the revenue share,” Tremaglio said. “At the end of the day, that’s what is going to drive the future.”

The fallout from the new deal will take months or years to fully understand. Free agents will be able to begin signing with teams in April, and since 80% of the players are eligible for free agency, there will be higher figures being floated around than ever.

A’ja Wilson and her Las Vegas Aces teammates celebrate while holding the 2025 WNBA championship trophy.

(Chris Coduto / Getty Images)

That might affect what talent comes to the league, too.

“More European players might come into the league,” a WNBA team consultant not authorized to speak about the league publicly told The Times. “Now that the money is better, that might knock out several college players in the draft.”

There are some WNBA-level players who have stayed in Europe due to restrictive prioritization rules that force players to participate in all WNBA practices and games even if they conflicted with international league obligations. Many WNBA players compete in international leagues during the offseason and prefer the option to keep playing in lucrative foreign leagues if there is an overlap with the WNBA season.

While the new rules for international play in the WNBA CBA are not yet clear, compensation changes could open the door for more players to choose to prioritize the league.

The general consensus among people operating within the WNBA is relief that a deal is in place.

“It’s huge,” one player agent told The Times. “They made big strides. This is important for women’s basketball.

Sparks players Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum and Julie Allemand talk during a game against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena on Aug. 12.

(Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)

“Anytime both sides don’t get everything they want,” the agent added, “that’s a good deal.”

That agent also noted that this CBA will set the precedent for the next negotiations to continue to raise the revenue-sharing if the league continues to make more money.

Under the new CBA, the 20% revenue-sharing is tied to the league’s gross revenue, a significantly different number than the net revenue, which is calculated after all expenses are taken into account. The players were fighting for a percentage of the gross revenue, even if it is a smaller percentage than the net revenue the league offered because it is guaranteed.

The NBA first reached 53% of gross revenue in their CBA in 1983 and has stayed around that number ever since.

“If it was net, you’d have all these other expenses and you sort of lose control of the actual expenses,” Tremaglio said. “You have no control from the perspective of where the players are. But now, you don’t even have to go look at the minutia of auditing every single expense line item. That’s what makes such a difference.”

More details around the CBA, including player housing, expansion draft format and roster spots, will become clearer as the deal reaches ratification.

For now, even if 20% revenue sharing is less than the 40% the players first proposed, the deal represents a significant, stable increase in player compensation.

“This will impact women’s sport globally, not just the game of basketball,” Tremaglio said. “This will impact everything, soccer, everything.”

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3), president of the WNBA players’ union, said for the first time, player salaries will be tied to a meaningful share of league revenue.

(Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press)

The league and players association have not made the terms public yet, but the salary cap will start at $7 million, up from $1.5 million in 2025, and the supermax will start at $1.4 million, up from $249,244 in 2025, a person with knowledge of negotiations not authorized to discuss them publicly told The Times. ESPN was the first to report the figures.

The total salary cap will jump by around 4.64 times the previous amount. The super maximum salary will be elevated by 5.61 times the previous amount. It means the top players will be eligible for larger raises than the league’s middle class.

The average salary will be $600,000, a bump from the previous average of $120,000, and the minimum salary will be more than $300,000, up from $66,079.

“For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars and raising the standard across facilities, staffing and support,” union president Nneka Ogwumike told reporters.

The main sticking point during negotiations was revenue sharing, and that number will be around 20% for the entirety of the multi-year deal. The league had previously offered 15.5%, a source told The Times, and players went down from their 40% ask to around 26% at the end of February, and then reached the agreement around 20% on Wednesday morning. The Athletic first reported the shift in revenue sharing figures.

Players had been negotiating for a percentage of overall revenue without factoring in expenses while the WNBA was seeking sharing tied to net revenue, mirroring the NBA’s structure that deducts expenses before sharing 50% of profits. The players secured a gross revenue deal, which gives them a cut of WNBA revenue without factoring in expenses, a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to discuss it publicly told The Times.

“This deal is going to be transformational, and you’ll see all the details hopefully soon,” WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart told reporters on Wednesday. “But it’s gonna build and help create a system where everybody is getting exactly what they deserve and more from on the court and off the court aspects.”

NEW YORK — The WNBA and its players’ union met again Wednesday, hours after a marathon negotiating session over a new collective bargaining agreement.

The two sides ended a 12-hour negotiation at 5 a.m. EDT without reaching a deal. They started talking again Wednesday afternoon and discussions were ongoing at sundown.

Union executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said Wednesday morning that there were “a lot of conversations going in the right direction.”

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert came out of the hotel where negotiations took place to talk to reporters briefly.

“It’s complex, but we’re working towards a win-win deal like we’ve been saying, transformational deal for these players. That balances all the things we’ve been trying to balance with continued investment by our owners,” she said. “So, we’re working hard towards that and still have work to do.”

Executive committee members Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner once again were at the hotel with Jackson and the union staff. The league was represented by Engelbert, head of league operations Bethany Donaphin and New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai. Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti joined the negotiating team on Wednesday.

Neither side left the hotel during the marathon bargaining session. A day later, both sides were outside during breaks enjoying an unseasonably warm mid-March day in Manhattan.

The sides have been exchanging proposals during the bargaining sessions over the last two days, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.

Revenue sharing and housing are key sticking points between the sides, as well as assigning a franchise tag to a player and benefits for retired players.

The league had said that at least a handshake agreement on a labor deal would need to be done by Tuesday to start the season as scheduled.

“We’ve got to get this deal done. We’ve got to get it done soon,” said Engelbert, who didn’t take questions from reporters.

When a deal is reached in principle, the league has said it would need a few weeks to finish off the CBA. After that work is done, the expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held sometime between April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the AP.

Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would be sent out April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents. The signing period would take place from April 12-18.

Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able to start on May 8.

But for any of that to happen, the two sides have to figure out a revenue sharing model. The union’s proposal from a week ago had asked for an average of 26% of the gross revenue — revenue before expenses — over the course of the CBA. That would include only 25% in the first year. The league has said that number was unrealistic.

The WNBA’s last few proposals have offered more than 70% of net revenue, with that number going up as the league continues to grow.