Liatu

King

Jackson remains in the league’s concussion protocol and will miss a third straight game. Rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker has been her replacement in the starting lineup and should retain that role. Fellow rookie Liatu King should also play rotation minutes on Sunday, backing up Barker.

Jackson will miss a second consecutive game as she remains in the league’s concussion protocol. Rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker started Wednesday’s loss to the Mercury but struggled, scoring two points on 1-of-7 shooting. Liatu King was more productive off the bench; both rookies will see ample playing time with Jackson sidelined.

Due to the absences of Rickea Jackson (concussion) and Rae Burrell (leg), Barker made her first career start on Wednesday. Unfortunately for the rookie, she had a rough night in Phoenix, missing all five of her three-point attempts. A positive from Barker’s first start was the four assists; she averaged 3.9 per game during her final season at Alabama. Fellow rookie Liatu King had a better night, making both of her shots and finishing with four points, three rebounds and one assist in 13 minutes. The minutes of both players will be dictated by Jackson’s availability, with the Sparks hosting the Valkyries on Friday.

After missing the Sparks’ first two games with a left knee injury, Allemand is on track to make her season debut Wednesday night. And the timing couldn’t be better for Los Angeles, which lost Rae Burrell (leg) and Rickea Jackson (concussion) in its first two games. Allemand will provide needed depth, as can the recently re-signed Liatu King. A third-round pick of the Sparks in last month’s draft, King was waived before being brought back on a hardship contract.

Jackson took a shot to the mouth at the end of the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Lynx. Unfortunately, the second-year forward has entered league concussion protocol and will miss a game for the first time in her career. Jackson’s absence means more playing time for rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker, and the Sparks signed Liatu King to a hardship contract on Tuesday.

With Cameron Brink (knee) not due to return until some point in June and Rae Burrell (leg) out for 6-8 weeks, the Sparks are down bodies at this early juncture. As a result, they’ve brought back King, who was waived on May 12 after being the 28th overall pick in April’s draft. King’s contract will run for the season after being initially signed to a seven-day hardship contract.

King, the 28th overall pick in last month’s draft, only played six minutes in the Sparks’ May 6 exhibition victory over the Valkyries. The Sparks currently have multiple options in the frontcourt, including Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson, and Cameron Brink is expected to return from her torn ACL at some point in June. As a result, King faced challenging odds to make the team’s final roster.

King was an excellent contributor for the Fighting Irish in her lone season in South Bend. Making 33 starts, she averaged 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.0 steals 0.9 blocks per game. King spent her first four seasons at Pitt, where she was named the ACC’s Most Improved Player as a senior. Her defensive and rebounding abilities are what she’ll lean on to earn a roster spot in Los Angeles.