Latest news with #OdysseySims
Yahoo
4 hours ago
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WNBA Team Releases Veteran After Player Returns rrom Temporary Leave
WNBA Team Releases Veteran After Player Returns rrom Temporary Leave originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The departure of several players around the WNBA, who left to participate in the 2025 FIBA Women's EuroBasket, has led to major roster changes. Advertisement Players around the league are making their way back to their respective teams as the overseas tournament concludes international play. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Sparks welcomed back Julie Allemand, who was playing with the Belgium National Team during the EuroBasket event. Allemand helped Belgium earn a medal at the tournament. As Allemand returned, the Sparks announced the release of WNBA veteran Odyssey Sims, who has played for the team for several seasons throughout her 12-year career. "The Los Angeles Sparks have waived guard Odyssey Sims," posted the Los Angeles Sparks' public relations team. Odyssey Sims had played in 12 games and started 11 games for the Los Angeles Sparks before being released by the organization. Advertisement The move was certainly an unexpected turn of events in the WNBA landscape because Sims carved out a significant role with the Sparks. During her time in Los Angeles, Sims posted 9.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Before her time with the Sparks this season, Sims also played for the Dallas Wings (formerly the Tulsa Shock), Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream. She began her professional career in 2014 after a successful college career with the Baylor Bears. Los Angeles Sparks guard Odyssey Sims (left) and Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner (42). Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Julie Allemand will look to make an impact on the Los Angeles Sparks, seemingly earning a larger role with the roster changes. During her first season with the Sparks, Allemand has posted 2.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in eight games played. Advertisement Related: Patrick Mahomes Receives Unfortunate News on Monday Related: Indiana Fever Player on Temporary Leave Reacts to New Post on Saturday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Starter Ruled Out for Chicago Sky-LA Sparks Game
Starter Ruled Out for Chicago Sky-LA Sparks Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 3-10 Chicago Sky will carry a three-game losing streak into Tuesday's contest against the 4-10 Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks have also lost three straight contests, as well as seven of their last nine. Advertisement Chicago was defeated in all three games last week by the Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury and Atlanta Dream. Two out of the three contests were lost by 13 points or more. Los Angeles has been blown out in each of its last three games as well. They have lost by consecutive spreads of 23, 31 and 16 to the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, and Lynx again. Los Angeles Sparks guard Odyssey Sims (0). Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Starting Sparks point guard Odyssey Sims has played well this season, averaging 10.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game (via Pro Basketball Reference). She is the team's fifth-leading scorer behind Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens and Rickea Jackson. Advertisement On Monday, however, the Sparks' official public relations account revealed that Sims would be out for the team's upcoming game against the Chicago Sky. This will be her fourth-straight game that she has missed. "#0 — Odyssey — NWT — Personal Reasons," the Sparks wrote. Six-year veteran guard Shey Peddy signed with the Sparks on June 14 and has started in each of the last two contests. She is averaging 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists through three games with Los Angeles. Chicago also lost its starting point guard this season, as Courtney Vandersloot went down with a torn ACL in a contest against the Indiana Fever earlier in June. She had been averaging 12.0 points and 6.2 assists per game prior to her injury. Advertisement The Sparks will likely start Peddy again on Tuesday against the Sky. Chicago, however, has rotated between Rebecca Allen, Kia Nurse and Rachel Banham to fill the void left by Vandersloot. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Tuesday evening. Sole possession of 10th place in the WNBA standings will be on the line in this game. Related: Dawn Staley's Message to Atlanta Dream Star After Chicago Sky Game Related: Chicago Sky Drop in WNBA Power Rankings After Dream Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
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Kelsey Plum gets major injury update for Lynx clash
The post Kelsey Plum gets major injury update for Lynx clash appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Sparks begin a three-game road trip starting with a matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday. The Lynx have been the best team in the Western Conference this season, but it appears as if the Sparks have help on the horizon. Star guard Kelsey Plum was not listed on the Sparks' injury report for Saturday, the team announced. Advertisement Kelsey Plum's omission from the injury report suggests that she is set to make her return to the Sparks' lineup against the Lynx. Plum was sidelined for the team's game against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday due to what was listed as a leg injury. Prior to the game, head coach Lynne Roberts acknowledged that the team did not have a potential timetable for Plum's return. In a related move that also signals Plum's return, the Sparks waived Grace Berger. Berger had been signed to a hardship contract in Plum's absence, and made her debut during Tuesday's loss to the Storm. Veteran guard Odyssey Sims, who has been starting alongside Plum in the backcourt, was still listed as being out due to personal reasons. Prior to the team's game against the Storm, Roberts was honest about the team's mindset despite multiple key absences in the rotation. 'I've learned through the years that you just have to keep plugging along. And the bigger deal I make of it, then the bigger deal the players make of it. We're not going to use any excuses. We certainly have hit some adversity, but that's part of sports,' Roberts said. 'Sometimes you just feel like you can't catch a break. But you just keep getting up and chopping wood, and you will catch a break.' Advertisement Plum has appeared in 12 games in her Sparks debut at just about 36 minutes per game. She's been averaging a career-high 20.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals with splits of 38.4 percent shooting from the field, 37.4 percent shooting from the three-point line and 89 percent shooting from the free-throw line. The Sparks originally acquired Plum in an offseason sign-and-trade involving the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm. Her addition to the roster signaled a shift towards winning now. The team has missed the postseason in four consecutive years now. As the Sparks embark on their three-game trip, they currently sit at 4-9 and in sixth place in the Western Conference standings. They had brief momentum, winning two of three games, but have dropped two straight amid the injuries and absences. Related: Sparks coach Lynne Roberts drops truth bomb on seldom-used rookie Related: Kelsey Plum's teammate explains controversial Sparks fan interaction
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sparks sign veteran guard amid multiple players out
The post Sparks sign veteran guard amid multiple players out appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Sparks came into their matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday a little short-handed. Julie Allemand is away from the team as she participates in Eurobasket for the Belgium national team, and Odyssey Sims was a late scratch from the lineup due to personal reasons. That left the team very thin in the backcourt. The Sparks made a roster move to address that with the signing of veteran guard Shey Peddy, the team announced. Advertisement The addition of Shey Peddy was a hardship contract, temporarily allowing the Sparks to make a roster move with multiple players out. Sims' being out for the game against the Lynx gave the Sparks only eight available players. The signing now brings the Sparks' active roster to nine players. In the WNBA, teams are allowed to add players past the maximum of 12 in the form of hardship contracts if they don't have enough active players. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Peddy did not make her league debut until the 2019 season as a free agent with the Washington Mystics. Prior to that, she had carved out an extensive career playing professionally overseas. Peddy's last season in the WNBA was in 2023 with the Phoenix Mercury. She appeared in 18 games that season at a little over 15 minutes per game. She averaged 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists with splits of 36.9 percent shooting from the field, 34.8 percent shooting from the three-point line and 80 percent shooting from the free-throw line. Peddy played a total of one and half seasons for the Mystics, and three and a half seasons for the Mercury. Her best season to date was in 2022 when she started 24 of 34 games for the Mercury, averaging a career-best 9.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals. She gives the Sparks a veteran presence off the bench with the temporary absences of Sims and Allemand. Advertisement The Sparks have shown better consistency as of late, winning two of their last three games. In their most recent win against the Las Vegas Aces, Rickea Jackson had a breakout game to lead the way. Related: Rickea Jackson reveals key factor behind breakout game vs. Aces Related: Sparks make crucial roster move on key reserve ahead of Eurobasket
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sparks make hardship contract addition amid lineup absences before taking on Storm
The post Sparks make hardship contract addition amid lineup absences before taking on Storm appeared first on ClutchPoints. Amid injuries and overseas commitments, the Los Angeles Sparks have signed Grace Berger to a rest-of-season hardship contract, the team announced on Tuesday. Advertisement Berger, a third-year player out of Indiana, was most recently a member of the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx waived her before the start of the season. She was a member of the Indiana Fever in 2023 and 2024, playing a total of 47 games and averaging 3.9 points per game in 13.3 minutes. From the Sparks' perspective, Berger is a welcome addition as the team has a slew of players from its normal roster unavailable. Los Angeles lists five players on its injury report for its next game, Tuesday night against the Seattle Storm. Julie Allemand is away at EuroBasket while Odyssey Sims is away from the team for personal reasons. Meanwhile, Cameron Brink is still working her way back from her ACL injury, while Kelsey Plum (Leg) and Rae Burrell (Knee) are nursing injuries themselves. Under normal circumstances, that would leave the Sparks with only seven available players, necessitating Berger's addition. The Sparks also signed Shay Peddy to a hardship contract on June 14. Advertisement Berger will face Mackenzie Holmes, her former Hoosier teammate, in her first game with the Sparks on Tuesday night. The Storm signed Holmes to a contract on Monday. Sparks' Cameron Brink calls for expanded rosters Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Between the normal wear-and-tear of a WNBA season and overseas commitments like EuroBasket, teams around the league are making temporary additions. As Brink has pointed out multiple times, that wouldn't be quite as necessary if the W allowed for more than 12 players on a roster. She said on her 'Straight to Cam' podcast on Monday that roster expansion should be a bigger priority than adding expansion teams. Advertisement 'I think now rosters need to be expanded before you know we add any more expansion teams,' she said. 'Like we've had, you know, three people out. Now we're at 10 people. It puts a lot of strain on people that are signed into hardships, you know all of that.' Brink's guest, Sue Bird, agreed, but cautioned that it's more complicated than it sounds. With a limited salary cap, expanding rosters would mean lower pay for the other players on the team. It will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion as the WNBPA negotiates the next WNBA CBA. Related: Why Sparks' Kelsey Plum isn't playing vs. Storm Related: Cameron Brink calls for WNBA roster overhaul while pushing back on expansion
