At this point, WNBA teams are basically trying to outdo each other for the crown of free agency darling.
We have seen the Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Connecticut Sun and Atlanta Dream all featured prominently in some way, shape or form this period of free agency.
Then in came the Los Angeles Sparks with a wicked โฆ and we mean wicked โฆ curveball.
๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ซ๐๐จ ๐๐ค ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ค๐ค๐๐ด
4X @WNBA Champion @seimoneaugustus signs with Los Angeles
๐ฐ ยป https://t.co/qoPqJPjBMq#GoSparks #LeadTheCharge pic.twitter.com/MQa96HRaSk
โ Los Angeles Sparks (@LA_Sparks) February 20, 2020
14 years.
4 rings.
Countless memories.Thank you, Money Mone. pic.twitter.com/dwHYHVKKCm
โ Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) February 20, 2020
Statements from #Lynx Owner Glen Taylor and Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve on Seimone Augustus:https://t.co/YX0WzCULhe
โ Lynx PR (@Lynx_PR) February 20, 2020
Seimone Augustus has said that 2020 will be her final season in the @WNBA … and now we find out she’s spending it with @LA_Sparks. Can’t say I saw that coming.
โ Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) February 20, 2020
The Sparks are not doing too shabby for a team with an interim general manager. That interim GM (Eric Holoman) must be auditioning the Magic Johnson-led Sparks ownership group for the permanent position because he just pulled off what has to be considered a surprise of the free agency period with the signing of Seimone Augustus, a four-time champion with the Minnesota Lynx.
That signing comes approximately a week after the Sparks landed Kristi Toliver from the Washington Mystics. Los Angeles continues its veteran trend between Augustus, Toliver, Chelsea Gray, Candace Parker and the Ogwumike sisters โ Nneka and Chiney.
All of that veteran talent will surely push the Sparks up further in the preseason contenders conversation with three months to go until the start of the season. The question that Derek Fisher will now face is how old is too old.
#WNBAFreeAgency got us like… pic.twitter.com/LG7ksO3hwS
โ WNBA (@WNBA) February 21, 2020
A lot of the WNBA player movement is due to the new CBA, which is great–I’m all for more player agency (and money!).
But Seimone Augustus…that’s a blindsiding. Really wrecks a Lynx fan’s day.
โ canishoopus (@canishoopus) February 21, 2020
Official statements from #Lynx owner Glen Taylor and head coach/general manager Cheryl Reeve on the departure of all-time Lynx great Seimone Augustus: pic.twitter.com/MTNGmHMi3L
โ Mitchell Hansen (@M_Hansen13) February 20, 2020
Seimone Augustus to the Sparks. Wow. What’s next, Batman joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe?! #WNBA #WNBAFreeAgency
โ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ผ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฅ๐จ (@wnbahoops) February 20, 2020
As for the Lynx, it could not be any clearer than it is today that it will soon be time for the team to build around Napheesa Collier. With Maya Moore still away from the game to focus on the Jonathan Irons case, Lindsay Whalen in a college head coaching role and Rebekkah Brunson an assistant under coach Cheryl Reeve, this leaves only Sylvia Fowles remaining from the Lynxโs dynasty years of the 2010s.
The Sparks visit Minnesota on June 7 on ABC. Four days later, both teams will meet again at Staples Center. The final get-together of the year between Minnesota and Los Angeles will be at Target Center on Aug. 19.
4x WNBA Champion and former Minnesota star Seimone Augustus is joining her long-time rival, the LA Sparks
Sparks now have:
Candace Parker
Nneka Ogwumike
Chiney Ogwumike
Kristi Toliver
Seimone AugustusWhat a squad. pic.twitter.com/oF0r2mytFV
โ Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2020
Free agency got me SHOOOOOOOK ๐คฏ @seimoneaugustus @LA_Sparks pic.twitter.com/el8yZbKYhe
โ WSLAM (@wslam) February 20, 2020
Live footage of me opening the Twitter app to say good evening to y’all and encountering this craziness…. pic.twitter.com/hQBL0RUDor
โ Lo Ira ๐ญ๐น (@LoIra_BTW) February 20, 2020
