The Sparks won’t hold still.
After a series of tantalizing offseason transactions that netted Liz Cambage, Chennedy Carter, Jordin Canada and Karlie Lou Samuelson, on Wednesday Coach and General Manager Derek Fisher acquired guard Lexie Brown from the Chicago Sky in a sign-and-trade deal.
In exchange, the Sparks dealt the rights to Chinese center Li Yueru, who was acquired alongside Carter in a trade with the Atlanta Dream on Feb. 5.
A 5-foot-9 guard who starred at Duke, Brown won a WNBA title last season with the Sky after stints with the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx.
In her four WNBA seasons, Brown – the daughter of Dee Brown, the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk champ and former general manager of the Agua Caliente Clippers G League team – has averaged 4.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Her best season was in 2019 with the Lynx, for whom she scored 7.6 points per game, shooting 40.2% from the floor and 38.5% from 3-point range.
A savvy defender, she also finished second in the league in steals in 2020, when she recorded 1.8 per game.
This offseason, Brown, 27, played in the inaugural Athletes Unlimited professional league, where in 15 games she averaged 14 points and shot 52.3% from the field, including 46.9% from deep on 4.3 attempts per game. She also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
Brown, the No. 9 overall pick by the Sun in 2018, comes aboard on a training camp contract, which is a one-year unprotected for $72,141, per source.
Lexie Brown steal and layup @AUProSports @Lexiebrown pic.twitter.com/kHjb07f0MD
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) January 27, 2022
Lexie Brown steal and layup @Lexiebrown @AUProSports #AUSports #BeUnlimited pic.twitter.com/hUPALLgcMd
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) January 30, 2022