Former Liberty Forward Whitmore Joins Sparks
The last hurdle in obtaining veteran WNBA forward and restricted free agent Tamika Whitmore was cleared Monday when the New York Liberty, Whitmore’s former team, declined to match the Sparks’ contract offer.
Terms were not released, but Whitmore, who played all five of her WNBA seasons in New York, is believed to have received a two-year deal at the league’s veteran minimum salary level of $43,680. She is scheduled to join the team today.
“I’m ecstatic about the entire situation,” said Whitmore, in a release by the Sparks. “It feels good to kind of spread my wings. I’m looking forward to joining the team and making the most of our new relationship.”
Spark Coach Michael Cooper, whose biggest concern in training camp was finding big forwards and centers to back up the team’s starting frontcourt of Lisa Leslie, Mwadi Mabika and DeLisha Milton-Jones -- who is coming back from a knee injury -- said he was quite pleased with the deal.
“She’s gonna provide us with that rough-and-toughness that [Milton-Jones] provides when she’s fully healthy,” Cooper said. “Now we have three legitimate ‘bigs’ with [Christi] Thomas, Lisa, and Tamika.
“I like our chances better. I feel we’re ready for Sacramento, Seattle, Detroit, Indiana and Washington.”
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Whitmore, who turns 27 on June 5, played both the small and power forward positions for the Liberty, starting 29 of 33 games last season. She has averaged 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in her career during the regular season, and 10.6 points and 3.5 points in the playoffs. Her best season was in 2002, when she averaged 12.7 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Cooper said he would play Whitmore at power forward and perhaps backup center. Whitmore said it didn’t matter.
“I will work hard in practice and the games, and I will give 100% in the games all the time,” Whitmore said. “I think that fits into any program.”
She will be the second former Liberty player to join the Sparks. Teresa Weatherspoon signed in February.
“Having played with her for five years I know she’s an incredible talent,” Weatherspoon said of Whitmore. “She brings a tremendous amount of defensive hustle, and she can shoot the basketball.”