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Sparks news: LA signs ex-Valkyries guard to final roster spot
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- Sparks news: LA signs ex-Valkyries guard to final roster spot
Sparks news: LA signs ex-Valkyries guard to final roster spot appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
After the Los Angeles Sparks converted rookie guard Tonie Morgan's contract to a standard deal , they had one open roster spot in the form of one of the league's new developmental contracts. With only five games remaining in the regular season, the Sparks signed former Texas and Vanderbilt guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda to that open roster spot.
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As per the new CBA, WNBA teams were essentially given two additional roster spots aside from the standard 12 to fill as developmental contracts. Those players are limited to being active for only 12 games each while not being eligible to play in the playoffs unless their deal is converted to a standard contract.
However, teams are only permitted to use players on developmental contracts for up to 24 games regardless of how many games said player has appeared in. The Sparks have already rotated multiple players on developmental deals this season including Morgan, Kate Martin, Laura Ziegler, Alissa Pili and now Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda.
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In total, the Sparks have used 19 of those 24 games between the aforementioned players, leaving five games in which Mwenentanda can appear in to close the season.
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After going undrafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Mwenentanda caught on with the Golden State Valkyries for training camp. She was waived before the start of the season, but later brought back on a replacement contract after Iliana Rupert stepped away from the team due to childbirth.
She appeared in five games with the Valkyries at a little over two minutes per game. She grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists in that time while taking only one shot.
The Sparks have already been eliminated from playoff contention , and head coach Lynne Roberts recently acknowledged that the team's front office wanted to see more of the bench and younger players receive playing time as the regular season winds down.
The team has one more game left, on the road against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, before the WNBA goes on an approximately three-week break for the FIBA World Cup. Mwenentanda will presumably be with the team in time for that game, but it's as of yet unclear if she will be active.
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