Sparks Trade for Kia Nurse, No. 4 WNBA Draft Pick; Storm Get 2026 1st-Round Pick

The Los Angeles Sparks acquired guard Kia Nurse and the No. 4 overall pick in the WNBA draft from the Seattle Storm for a 2026 first-rounder.

"I am excited that we were able to acquire Kia and welcome her to our Sparks family," Sparks coach Curt Miller said. "Kia is a versatile veteran guard who can play multiple positions and brings a toughness and physicality that will fit in perfectly with our team."

After missing the entire 2022 season due to a torn ACL, Nurse averaged 5.9 points and 1.3 assists in 19.7 minutes per game in her only year with Seattle. She was a regular in the starting lineup in the first half before Gabby Williams' midseason return helped to push her down to the bench.

With Wednesday's trade, many were left to wonder whether Seattle is clearing the deck for something big in free agency.

The Storm hosted Nneka Ogwumike for a visit, while Skylar Diggins-Smith would address their immediate need for a veteran point guard to line up alongside Jewell Loyd. Now, they have the flexibility to sign both players if the opportunity presents itself.

Maybe general manager Talisa Rhea has something different in mind, but it would be odd for a team to surrender a lottery pick in order to get salary cap relief and then not put that cap space to good use.

On the other side of the trade, the Sparks add another asset that will help them lay the long-term foundation of the roster. They now have two of the top four selections in the upcoming draft.

The fourth pick has a lot less value given this is widely considered a three-player class between Iowa's Caitlin Clark, Stanford's Cameron Brink and UConn's Paige Bueckers.

But any one of South Carolina forward Kamilla Cardoso, UConn's Aaliyah Edwards or Tennessee's Rickea Jackson could be an impactful contributor in the frontcourt. If Los Angeles goes with Brink at No. 2, then Ohio State's Jacy Sheldon or Virginia Tech's Georgia Amoore would be a suitable backcourt foil.

Ogwmike's goodbye wasn't how Sparks fans wanted to start the offseason. Wednesday provided a little bit of relief.