By R.L. Bynum
The Los Angeles Sparks have signed Alyssa Ustby as an undrafted free agent.
She finished an outstanding five-year career at North Carolina as the program’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,251, which is third on the all-time ACC list.
The Sparks won the last of their three WNBA titles in 2016, haven’t made the playoffs since 2020 and finished 8–20 last season.
Los Angeles picked Alabama guard Sarah Ashlee Barker in the first round as the ninth overall pick of Monday’s WNBA draft and South Carolina guard Sania Feagin in the second round as the 20th overall pick. In the third round, the Sparks made Notre Dame forward Liatu King the 28th overall selection.
The Sparks’ big offseason acquisition was point guard Kelsey Plum, whom they acquired from the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team trade.
Ustby earned All-ACC first-team honors last season when she averaged 10.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists to lead the Tar Heels to a Sweet 16 appearance and a 29–8 record. She led the ACC with 7.64 defensive rebounds per league game.
Ustby is the only player in program history with a triple-double, pulling that off on Jan. 4, 2024, in a 75–71 home victory over Syracuse with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
She scored at least 20 points nine times in her career, topped by her 25 points on Feb. 18, 2024, when she also had 10 rebounds in a 58–58 win at Wake Forest.
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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