Breaking News: Sparks strengthen frontcourt amid injury woes

Breaking News: Sparks strengthen frontcourt amid injury woes

The Los Angeles Sparks are now on a seven-game road tour, and they had not won any of the first five games before they played the New York Liberty on Saturday. Furthermore, they will be a touch underhanded. Before their game against the Liberty, the Sparks signed free agent center Queen Egbo to a hardship contract in an effort to solve their recent string of injuries.

The Sparks were able to sign Queen Egbo to a hardship contract since they did not have the necessary ten players available. Due to injuries, the Sparks are presently missing Cameron Brink and Azurá Stevens. Due to sickness, Lexie Brown will miss Saturday’s game against the Liberty.

Egbo will stay with the squad on a hardship contract until a player is removed from the injured list. The Sparks promptly end Egbo’s hardship contract once they have 10 players available again. Curt Miller, the head coach of the Sparks, talked about what he hopes Egbo would bring to the floor before the game.

“Hardship players find it extremely hard to adjust in a day without practicing. We held a film session instead of a shoot around. I went over a few topics with her, but in fifteen minutes, what will you teach her about our seventy-eight plays? Miller stated, “That doesn’t even get the defensive game plan started.” “What I informed her and what I am aware of…When in doubt, keep in mind the four R’s: run, rebound, roll, rim protect, and be unwavering. Your R’s are always available. She is capable of being that, and she can assist us with offensive rebounding. Without knowledge of the playbook, one is ignorant of nothing.

Before being released earlier this month, Queen Egbo played in three games for the Connecticut Sun this season. In her two-year career, Egbo, the No. overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, has also played for the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics.

In her 33 games as a rookie with the Fever in 2022, she averaged 7.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocked shots. That was her greatest season. She is a skilled rebounder and a strong defensive defender in the paint.

Sparks injury issues brings opportunity for young players

Some of the younger players on the club seem to get opportunities and minutes due to the absences from the Sparks roster. Li Yueru, the backup center, is one player in particular who seems to gain by playing more minutes.

Yueru, who played for the Chicago Sky in 2022, is just in her second season of professional basketball. She was the first big off the bench player for the Sparks this season after being acquired in an offseason deal. But Yueru is now the starting center due to Cameron Brink’s injury.