LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2023) – The Los Angeles Sparks, led by Head Coach Curt Miller, open training camp on April 30 at El Camino College in Torrance, CA.

The Sparks 17-woman training camp roster returns six players from the 2022 Sparks, led by former MVP and WNBA champion Nneka Ogwumike. Also returning is two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike, WNBA Champions Lexie Brown and Jordin Canada, 2022 first-round draft pick Rae Burrell and Southern California native Katie Lou Samuelson, who will miss the 2023 season (pregnancy).

The newest additions feature WNBA Champion Azura Stevens, two-time All-Star, Sixth Woman of the Year and 2022 WNBA Champion Dearica Hamby, three-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection and 2017 All-Star Jasmine Thomas, and veteran Chinese guard Yang Liwei. The Sparks also signed former WNBL MVP Steph Talbot, who will miss the 2023 season with a torn ACL suffered this offseason.

The Sparks are excited to welcome the No. 10 pick Zia Cooke (South Carolina) and the No. 26 pick Monika Czinano (Iowa) to Los Angeles. The No. 14 pick Shaneice Swain (Australia) will not come over to the WNBA in 2023.

The Sparks rounded out the 2023 training camp roster with veteran guard and 2017 All-Star Layshia Clarendon, Socal natives Reshanda Gray and Karlie Samuelson, and recent signees Crystal Bradford and Joyner Holmes.

LA Sparks 2023 Training Camp Roster

No.	Player	POS	EXP	DOB	College/Country
1	Zia Cooke	G	R	9-Jan-01	South Carolina/USA
4	Lexie Brown	G	5	27-Oct.-94	Duke/USA
5	Dearica Hamby	F	9	6-Nov-93	Wake Forest/USA
6	Crystal Bradford	F	2	11-Jan-93	Central Michigan
12	Rae Burrell	G-F	R	21-Jun-00	Tennessee/USA
13	Chiney Ogwumike	F-C	5	21-Mar-92	Stanford/USA
15	Jasmine Thomas	G	12	30-Sept-89	Duke/USA
20	Monika Czinano	F	R	20-Jan-00	Iowa/USA
21	Jordin Canada	G	5	11-Aug-95	UCLA/USA
22	Reshanda Gray	F	5	1-Jun-93	Cal/USA
23	Azura Stevens	C	5	1-Feb-96	Connecticut/USA
24	Joyner Holmes	F	3	22-Feb-98	Texas
25	Layshia Clarendon	G	10	2-May-91	Cal/USA
30	Nneka Ogwumike	F	10	2-Jul-90	Stanford/USA
33	*Katie Lou Samuelson	F	4	13-Jun-97	Connecticut/USA
37	Yang Liwei	G	R	2-Jan-95	China
44	Karlie Samuelson	G	3	10-May-95	Stanford/USA

*Katie Lou Samuelson will miss the 2023 season (pregnancy)
*Steph Talbot will miss the 2023 season (ACL)

Basketball Operations & Coaching Staff

Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager – Karen Bryant

Assistant General Manager – Eli Horowitz

Vice President, Operations & Player Relations- Ilene Hauser

Head Coach- Curt Miller

Assistant Coach- Chris Koclanes

Assistant Coach- Steve Smith

Assistant Coach – Danielle Viglione

Player Development Coach- Nola Henry

Video & Analytics Coordinator- Addison Lee

Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer- Dr. Courtney Watson

Assistant Athletic Trainer- Charvette Johnson

Strength and Performance Coach –Emily Blurton

Equipment & Facilities Manager – Thomas Archie

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES SPARKS

Founded in 1996, the Los Angeles Sparks are one of three original franchises in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Sparks have won three WNBA Championships (2001, 2002, 2016), have qualified for the playoffs in 20 of their 26 seasons and remain the only active team in the league to win back-to-back titles. The Los Angeles Sparks are dedicated to ensuring each home game at Crypto.com Arena has a championship level entertainment experience while showcasing the best female athletes from around the world on the court. LA Sparks 2023 season tickets are available here for purchase.

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