Sparks fans went into Friday’s expansion draft expecting to say goodbye to at least two players. They ultimately lost Julie Allemand to the Toronto Tempo and Sarah Ashlee Barker to the Portland Fire. But they’re left with one major surprise: both Azurá Stevens and Rae Burrell are still Sparks.
It was widely speculated that the five protection spots allotted to the Sparks would to go to Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson and either Stevens or and Burrell, meaning that one of the two would be exposed. But, in a surprise, neither one was selected by Portland or Toronto. Not only does it make the Sparks’ offseason priorities more in question without a clear line to who they protected, but it also raises questions about the perceived value of the two in the league.
In a lot of ways, it’s a major exhale. In 2025, Stevens averaged 13 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 48.8% from the floor and nearly 40% from three. Burrell shined in Unrivaled this offseason, presumably raising her WNBA stock on the heels of her best-yet WNBA season. It is a happy for the Sparks surprise to lose neither as teams head into free agency.
Losing Allemand, however, feels like an unavoidable blow. The Toronto Tempo chose Allemand as their first overall pick, a strong choice given her veteran experience at the point guard position.
Allemand’s return from Eurobasket in 2025 marked a turning point in the Sparks’ season. While it may have not resulted in the dramatic run they’d hoped, her calm and decisive experience presence precipitated throughout the team. She averaged 5.4 points, 5.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 28.3 minutes per game, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.1, second in the league behind only Lexie Brown, who recorded 23 assists compared to Allemand’s 127.
In her first seven games after her return from EuroBasket last July, the Sparks went 5-2, with Allemand recording 36 assists against only 6 turnovers in that stretch. Toronto is getting a player who makes her teammates better, and whose international pass-first point guard play will be a strong fit for Coach Brondello’s style. She’ll play alongside Marina Mabrey, a strong combination that will allow Mabrey to move off the ball and likely serve as the target for many of Allemand’s assists.
“Julie brought a versatile skill set to the Sparks, highlighted by her elite court vision and selfless play,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said in a press release following the announcement. “Toronto is gaining a talented player and an exceptional teammate, and we wish her continued success.”
Barker’s departure will cause less of an immediate gap — she largely came off the bench in a supporting role amid injury. She was touted as a “3-and-D” rookie, who worked hard and was ready to learn and grow. “She’s always in the right place,” Sparks Head Coach Lynne Roberts said early in the season. Talent and coachability aside, Barker’s rookie-scale contract makes her an affordable piece of Portland’s build. If she can improve her shooting consistency and maintain her competitive defensive mindset, she’ll be a strong piece off the bench.
“[She] embodies the competitiveness, attitude and work ethic every organization values,” said Pebley. “She’s a promising talent who approaches the game the right way, and Portland is gaining both a competitor and an incredible person.”
The Sparks’ core remains intact. As of now, Plum, Hamby, Brink, Jackson, Stevens and Burrell remain, a solid six that on paper and, pending healthy seasons, would only need a few supporting pieces to do something special. The defense still needs work, however — the Sparks were first in the league in opponent points per game at 88.2 in 2025, a problem that doesn’t get easier when the most reliable point guard is replaced.
Pebley called last year a “planting season.” The Sparks’ roster suggests the harvest is coming. But Plum and Hamby’s second-highest scoring duo in the league needs a point guard who can protect the ball, manage the half court, and keep the turnovers down. Allemand was the answer to that question in 2025. Finding a new one is the most important task of this offseason.
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