The WNBA 2026 season promises to be one of the most exciting ones with the mega CBA deal and the biggest free agency market. The Los Angeles Sparks are also active on the market following their subpar performance in the 2025 season.
The Sparks had interest in Nneka Ogwumike and even added her to the roster, showing their intent to ‘spend big’ to stay competitive in the market. But they need to balance the books and will move some of their assets. WNBA analyst Rachel DeMita questions the decision and offers her analysis of the trade.
Analyst Doubts Los Angeles Sparks’ Intentions
The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream for two future picks, but the franchise is also looking to fill the gap with another talented forward. On Thursday, Annie Costabile reported that the Sky and the Sparks were discussing a potential trade surrounding Ariel Atkins and Rickea Jackson. DeMita discussed the move, casting doubt over Los Angeles’ strategy.
DeMita said, “Rickea Jackson is really good, she is really young, so maybe the Chico Sky was clearing some space. I personally don’t know why Sparks would do the trade for young Rickea Jackson for Ariel Atkins. Its hard for me to understand some of these trades. Unless the LA Sparks are going for kind of a win-now mode, so that they are not going for any rebuild.”
“The Sparks haven’t been great over the last two seasons. So to go from a team that didn’t make the playoffs, into a team that is going for a contender’s category … I just don’t know,” the analyst concluded.
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The 2024 draftee played in 78 games for the LA team and has had a bigger impact early in her career. The star averaged 14 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. She had been very impactful from the three-point range, netting nearly 35% attempts.
Although Atkins had been an All-Star and All-Defensive player, her playing position certainly raises questions over the Sparks’ intentions.
LA Sparks Prioritize Kelsey Plum In Fee Agency Signings.
As soon as the free agency signing started, many teams quickly picked their top picks to protect. The Indiana Fever offered Kelsey Mitchell a max extension, which would affect their next signings. Similarly, the Sparks chose their guard, Kelsey Plum, who made a huge impact in their first season with the side and also during the unrivaled season 2.
Moving from the Aces to the Sparks, she played 44 games, averaging 19.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game. According to reports, Los Angeles extended Plum a qualifying core offer at the start of free agency. If she accepts, she could earn up to $1.5 million next season.
🌴 The Los Angeles Sparks extended a Core qualifying offer to Kelsey Plum.#LASparks x #WNBATransactions pic.twitter.com/dh8ETAxCMy
— ʀᴏᴏᴋɪᴇ 👻 (@CoachRookie) April 8, 2026
The Sparks missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, and adding the 2016 champion showed their intentions to change that ‘narrative’ and keeping Plum was a ‘no-brainer’ for the front office. But the question over Jackson’s trade still remains one of the big questionable decisions.