Kiana Williams’ first day with the Los Angeles Sparks was also the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebration. Legends from the 2001 and 2002 title teams were in the building. There were cameras, speeches, the whole thing. And somewhere in the middle of it, Williams was trying to figure out where to stand for a drill.
That’s what happens when you go from the Phoenix Mercury to the Sparks in about 72 hours.
Williams signed an offer sheet with LA on Friday. Phoenix had 48 hours to match. They didn’t. So on Saturday, the fifth-year guard out of Stanford was on the floor at practice wearing purple and gold, already expected to plug into the rotation Sunday against New York — regardless of whether Kelsey Plum is cleared to play.
The timing is interesting. Plum’s lower leg injury did not force the Sparks’ hand here, exactly. They had already identified a need for another ball-handler in the backcourt. The idea of forcing rookie guards Ta’Niya Latson and Chance Gray into primary playmaking roles didn’t sit well. So LA went hunting in the WNBA’s developmental contract pool and found Williams, who was averaging a career-best 4.8 points and shooting 36 percent from three over eight games with the Mercury this season.
But here’s the part Williams doesn’t have to learn: she already knows what this team looks like when it’s clicking.
“We just played LA twice over in Phoenix and it wasn’t a great feeling losing both those games,” Williams said. “So I know what LA is capable of.”
The Sparks swept that home-and-home set with the Mercury earlier this month. So Williams is arriving with a fresh memory of what she’s walking into, not a scouting report written by somebody else.
Cameron Brink is already a familiar face. They won a national title together at Stanford. Williams also played alongside Nneka Ogwumike in Seattle, and she shared an Unrivaled offseason league with Plum, Brink, Erica Wheeler, Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell. Which means maybe half the roster already knows how she plays.
What she’s here to do isn’t complicated.
“Just trying to be a ball-handler, a backup to E-Dub, take some pressure off Kelsey Plum,” Williams said. “Just bringing my experience. I played with Nneka in Seattle so I’m familiar with her. Just trying to bring my shooting capabilities, my ball-handling, my leadership and stuff to the team, just trying to mesh in.”
The Sparks need someone who can give Plum and Wheeler four or six minutes of rest per game without the offense falling apart. That’s the job. Williams shot 36 percent from deep this year. She’s not here to be a star. She’s here to keep the car on the road while the stars sit.
Head coach Lynne Roberts got her first real look at Williams during Saturday’s practice and came away encouraged.
“We got with her a little last night just to kind of try to acclimate her with the playbook,” Roberts said. “But she’s a vet, she’s a pro. So she’s doing good.”
Williams was the No. 18 pick in the 2021 draft. She has spent the last two seasons in Phoenix. A career year in terms of shooting efficiency, a trade out of the blue, and now she’s wearing purple for the first time. The whole thing moved fast. She doesn’t seem bothered by it.
“Everything really happened super fast, but to me I ended up in a great situation here in LA,” Williams said. “What a crazy day to have, the alums here just agains about the history, the culture and stuff. So I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity. I don’t take wearing this purple and old for granted.”
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