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The Los Angeles Sparks, in search of frontcourt help amid Cameron Brink’s recent ankle injury, made a roster move over the weekend, signing former first round pick Alissa Pili to one of the WNBA’s new developmental contracts. In order to make room for Pili on the roster, the Sparks waived Laura Ziegler. Pili joins Kate Martin as the Sparks’ two allocated development contract players.
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This is Alissa Pili‘s second stint with the Sparks after signing a pair of 7-day contracts with the team last season before eventually inking a deal for the rest of the year. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, she began her career with the Minnesota Lynx, appearing in 22 games as a rookie.
The Lynx waived her a couple of months into the 2025 season and she ended up playing in five games with the Sparks over the last month of the year. She averaged 3.2 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 90.9 percent from the free-throw line.
On a development contract, Pili is limited in the number of games she can play unless her contract is eventually converted to a standard deal. The Sparks had been using Ziegler as the backup center in the absence of Brink. The No. 2 overall pick was the team’s main backup big, but has missed the last four games due to injury. There is no concrete timetable for her return.
Pili is currently rehabbing from an injury herself and is considered day-to-day at this point, as per Justin Russo of Russo Writes. The Sparks have a slate of home games this week beginning with the Seattle Storm on Monday, followed by the Indiana Fever on Wednesday and culminating with the Chicago Sky on Friday.
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If Pili is not cleared to play, the Sparks will have to rely on veteran forward Emma Cannon as the reserve big. The Sparks are currently 8-10 and in 10th place in the WNBA standings. In addition to Brink being out, the team is also without star guard Kelsey Plum who is dealing with a lower leg injury.
The Sparks are hoping to snap a streak of five consecutive years of not making the playoffs.
Related: Kelsey Plum surges up ESPN’s top players ranking despite leg injury
