Congratulations! Li Yueru joins the Los Angeles Sparks: MVP center leaves, she may be the new core of the interior
On February 20, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Sparks officially announced that they had reached a trade agreement with the Chicago Sky, and the Sparks sent the No. 8 pick in 2024 in exchange for Li Yueru, Julie Allemand and a three-round pick in 2025. In addition, the domestic basketball media Love Women's Basketball broke the news that it is reported that this time to join the Sparks, the team promised to give Li Yueru stable playing time.
The Sparks have undergone a major reshuffle in 2024, and the team's long-time centerpiece, 2012 No. 1 center and 2016 MVP, Enneka Ohumic, has left the Sparks and has signed with the Seattle Storm. Ohumic helped the Sparks win the WNBA championship in 2016. After another star, Candace Parker, left the Sparks, Ohumic has been a star in the Sparks all these years. Ohumik's departure means that the spark has entered a new era.
The Sparks have won the league championship three times in history, but now the Sparks are weak teams in the WNBA and have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
This year, the Sparks renewed the contracts of Clarendon and Blair, brought in All-Star guard Gia Nurse, and also signed Ali McDonald and Monique Billings.
After the introduction of Li Yueru, Sparks currently have 3 centers in the lineup. In addition to Li Yueru, there are Azula Stevens, who is 1.98 meters tall, and Vera Keith, who is 1.96 meters tall. Of course, there are also 1.93m Billings and 1.91m Humby in the power forward position.
Lee's number one rival at center is Stevens, who averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season. Li Yueru is likely to compete with her for the starting center position.
Los Angeles Sparks coach Kurt Miller said of Li Yueru: "Li has performed very well in Turkey this season and will play an important role in the next Olympic journey of the Chinese women's basketball team. Lee is in great shape and will be a good help for the team's interior in the future. ”
Li Yueruyang has been very successful in Turkey, averaging 18.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in the league this season while shooting 59.6% from the field. She averaged 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 57.5 percent from the field. Li Yueru's performance has long attracted the attention of WNBA teams.
Li Yueru had a strong Olympic qualifying tournament during the spring, including a super double double of 22 points and 23 rebounds, plus 1 assist and 3 blocks, in a win over Puerto Rico, with a plus/minus of +15 and a game-high efficiency of +38.
However, there is still a problem in front of Li Yueru. In 2024, the Chinese women's basketball team has the task of the Olympic Games, and according to the convention, the Chinese women's basketball team will have long-term training and training to play warm-up games.