The Los Angeles Sparks acquired Chennedy Carter on Saturday, sending Erica Wheeler as well as draft picks to the Atlanta Dream.
β¨πππππππ ππ πππ ππππ πππππππππβ¨@ChennedyCarter | #GoSparks— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) February 5, 2022
β¨πππππππ ππ πππ ππππ πππππππππβ¨@ChennedyCarter | #GoSparks
The Sparks also acquired the rights to Li Yueru from the Dream. In exchange, the Dream received the No. 15 pick in the 2022 draft and a 2023 first-round pick.
Carter was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. During her rookie season, she averaged 17.4 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game and earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team. Over two seasons in the WNBA, sheβs averaged 16.1 points and 3.4 assists per game.
βChennedy Carter has the skills to be an All-WNBA talent,β said GM and head coach Derek Fisher. βShe can score at all three levels and has a tenacious approach to the game. At just 23 years old, weβre excited about the potential for her to be a star for many years to come.β
Despite her talents, Carter’s time with the Dream was marked by controversy, as Carter spent much of the 2021 season suspended for βconduct detrimental to the teamβ following a reported altercation in the Atlanta Dream locker room. Last December, WNBA veteran Angel McCoughtry said she was working to mentor Carter.
Yueru is one of the top international centers for the Chinese national team. At the Tokyo Olympics, she averaged 14.8 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 78.6 percent from the field.
Wheeler was with the Sparks for just one season, signing with the team as a free agent in 2021. Through six seasons in the WNBA, sheβs averaged 9.7 points, 3.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.
The Sparks have been active this offseason, with Liz Cambage reportedly verbally committing to playing for the team in 2022.