(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The Sparks have recently made two more outstanding player transactions in ramping up their opening-day roster for the new 2024 WNBA season. The front-office has successfully come to terms with multi-dimensional and pivotal player in Guard, Layshia Clarendon, and third year reserve forward, Rae Burrell. Both contributed strongly to the team’s overall performance last season, and with the addition of several veteran and accomplished new teammates, they should do even better this season for Head Coach, Curt Miller, the team, and their fans.
Please give a good read to the team’s press announcement that will provide more details on this very important re-signing of both players.
Sparks Re-sign Layshia Clarendon and Rae Burrell
LOS ANGELES— The Los Angeles Sparks recently announced the re-signing of guard Layshia Clarendon and forward Rae Burrell. Per team policy, the terms of the agreements were not released.
In 2023, Clarendon averaged a career-best 11.1 points and 1.1 steals while shooting 45.7 percent from the three-point line in her first season with the Sparks.
Last year, she set a career-high against the New York Liberty late in the season scoring 30 points. The Sparks were 14-10 with Clarendon in the lineup. In 11 seasons in the league, she has averaged 7.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists with the Lynx, Liberty, Sun, Dream and Fever.
“I am deeply grateful to have found a home with the Sparks. I was born and raised in San Bernadino, CA and it feels like such a sweet homecoming after 10 years of playing for various teams around the league,” Clarendon said. “I’m thrilled to continue to be a part of it and excited to build something really special here.”
In her second season in the league, Burrell appeared in 29 games, averaging 11.1 minutes, 3.6 points, and 1.2 rebounds while shooting 39 percent from the three-point line. She scored a career-high 18 points versus the New York Liberty along with two assists, two rebounds, and one steal with four made threes.
“I’m super excited and grateful for this opportunity and ready to take advantage of it and being back in Los Angeles,” Burrell said. “I look forward to working with all the familiar faces and ready to keep the momentum up that we started building last year and continue to become a winning team.”
“Layshia is coming off an outstanding season displaying her versatility playing all three guard positions while being a valued leader in the locker room and providing toughness on the court. We’re thrilled to have her back in LA,” said head coach Curt Miller. “Rae is an outstanding athlete who has a great motor. She provides excellent length on the wing and good 3-point shooting. We are excited to have her back and build upon her strong finish last season.”
“Rae and Layshia are two players that we identified early that we wanted back on our roster,” said general manager Raegan Pebley. “They add to the identity of our team not only in style of play but also in shared leadership and toughness.” ###
