Karlie Samuelson Terminated and Joyner Holmes Waived 

LOS ANGELES (June 5, 2023) – The Los Angeles Sparks announced today that Azurá Stevens has been activated ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Storm. Stevens has missed the first five games of the season due to a back injury. As a result, Karlie Samuelson’s hardship contract has been terminated. In a subsequent move, the Sparks have waived Joyner Holmes. 

The Sparks signed coveted free-agent Azurá Stevens in the offseason to a multi-year contract. She holds career averages of 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 121 total games in two seasons with the Dallas Wings and three seasons with the Chicago Sky. During her time in Dallas, she contributed 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 43 games (10 starts). In her next three seasons with the Sky, she tallied 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 78 total games, helping the Sky to a WNBA Championship in 2021. 

Samuelson appeared in five games this season for the Sparks, where she averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23 minutes per game.  

Holmes, the 19th overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, appeared in five games this season for the Sparks, where she averaged 4.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 12 minutes per game.  

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 single-game tickets are available here for purchase.