The 6-foot-1 Cunningham was a restricted free agent as the Mercury look to retool their roster following a tumultuous 2022 campaign. The 3-point specialist has shot 40% or better from long range each of the last two seasons. Guard Sophie Cunningham will return to the Phoenix Mercury on a two-year deal, her agent, Navarro Thompson, told ESPN on Wednesday.Ĭunningham, a second-round pick of the Mercury in 2019 out of Missouri, averaged a career-high 12.6 points in 29.5 minutes for the team in 2022. … She talked really highly of a lot of people in the organization and she definitely kind of helped me make my decision, so I’m grateful to her for that.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĪgent: Sophie Cunningham, Phoenix Mercury reach 2-year deal “Candace is a great mentor of mine and a great friend. Stevens said former Sparks star Candace Parker gave her one last assist, which actually encouraged her to sign with Los Angeles. ![]() ![]() If the 27-year-old, who has missed both of the Sparks’ preseason games, can consistently play more than 25 minutes, she could emerge as a star. Stevens was the team’s marquee free agent acquisition in February after helping the Chicago Sky win the 2021 league title.Īccording to Her Hoop Stats, Stevens is the team’s highest-paid player (along with Thomas) but she’s only averaged 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.1 minutes per game through her first five seasons with Dallas and Chicago while enduring occasional foot and knee injuries. She’s a center with the ability to handle the ball, shoot from 3-point range, rebound and score inside. The 6-foot-6 Stevens, the team’s only player taller than 6-3, is an intriguing figure. Will Azurá Stevens become a franchise player? Chiney and Nneka are staple players in this league, good people, and Azurá when she gets back healthy, I think we have a lot of mobility. “We’re all similar in mobility, great leadership. “There are three former All-Stars,” Hamby said. Guards Jasmine Thomas and Layshia Clarendon (both 2017 All-Stars), two-time All-Star forwards Dearica Hamby (2021, 2022) and Chiney Ogwumike (2014, 2018) and seven-time All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike (2013-2015, 2017-2019, 2022). The Sparks currently have five former All-Stars on their 2023 roster. ![]() How many Sparks will be 2023 WNBA All-Stars? “Like we say in the huddle and we say every day, we have to focus on each other and we have to focus on how the Sparks can get better and if we do that then we’ll get to the playoffs.” 2. “We’re only concerned about us and getting better and it’s anyone’s goal to make the playoffs,” said Sparks veteran point guard Jordin Canada, a former UCLA and Windward High School star. Sparks forward Nneka Oguwmike, a seven-time All-Star, and the 2016 WNBA Most Valuable Player, is the only current player who played for the franchise that season, but Ogwumike did not play in the one-and-done playoff loss due to a migraine. No current Sparks were active the last time the team made it to and subsequently lost in the second round to the Connecticut Sun and then-Coach Curt Miller, who is now the Sparks’ head coach. It only requires a top-eight finish in the 12-team league to reach the postseason for the first time since 2020, the WNBA’s bubble season in Bradenton, Florida. Will the Sparks make the playoffs?Īfter missing the postseason for two straight years (2021, 2022) for the first time since the franchise’s first two years in the league (1997, 1998), and finishing last year with a 13-23 record, Sparks fans desperately want (and need) their team to make the playoffs. ![]() LOS ANGELES - The Sparks have several looming questions ahead of the team’s season opener on Friday when they host Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and the Phoenix Mercury to tip off their WNBA season on ESPN.
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