Sparks trade Canada to Atlanta for McDonald, draft-pick upgrade
The Sparks traded point guard Jordin Canada and the No. 12 pick in April's WNBA draft to the Atlanta Dream for Aari McDonald and the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, the team announced Thursday.
Canada, a former Windward High star and 2018 UCLA graduate who played the past two seasons with the Sparks, was designated a cored free agent, which meant she could be dealt only in a sign-and-trade scenario.
Canada averaged a career-high 13.3 points and 6 assists last season.
The newly acquired 5-foot-6 McDonald, who played high school basketball in Stockton, was the third overall pick in the 2021 WNBA draft out of Arizona. She averaged 7.9 points and 3 assists in 23.5 minutes in 24 games last season.
Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley and head coach Curt Miller said they are excited to add McDonald to the fold.
“Aari is an exciting addition to the Sparks. I look forward to
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working with her and have been a fan since her collegiate days,” Miller said. “Over her WNBA career, she has shown herself to be one of the fastest guards in the league and will help us establish our tempo on a nightly basis.”
Added Pebley: “I have had a chance to watch Aari throughout her career; she is a dynamic scorer and fierce competitor. We are ecstatic to have her join the Sparks. Many pieces make up a complete puzzle. We believe this third first-round pick combined with No. 2, No. 4 and No. 28 (third round) will be critical pieces that help our vision of elite players becoming champions here in Los Angeles.”
It was the Sparks' second trade in two days.
On Wednesday, the Sparks announced the acquisition of 2019 WNBA All-Star Kia Nurse and the No. 4 overall pick in the draft from the Storm for the Sparks' 2026 first-round draft pick. That transaction gives the Sparks a second lottery pick.
The Sparks now hold 25% of the first-round selections in April: No. 2 (their lottery pick), No. 4 (from Seattle) and No. 8 (from Atlanta).
who announced last week that she would sign elsewhere. Ogwumike, an unrestricted free agent, has visited with the Chicago Sky, Seattle Storm and New York Liberty.
The three-time WNBA champion Sparks missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year, the longest postseason drought during the organization's 27-year existence. The storied franchise is one of three remaining inaugural teams from the 1998 season.
Sparks unrestricted free-agent forward Karlie Samuelson signed a contract with the Washington Mystics, the league announced Thursday. The 6-foot sharpshooter, who graduated from Mater Dei in 2013, had a career year with the Sparks in 2023. Samuelson, who started 23 of the 34 games she played in, averaged 7.7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game. She shot 42.6% from 3-point range, which ranked sixth in the WNBA.
The Sparks currently have eight players under contract: Azurá Stevens, Dearica Hamby, Stephanie Talbot, Lexie Brown, Nia Clouden, Zia Cooke and the newly acquired McDonald and Nurse.