{"id":817838,"date":"2026-08-18T16:44:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/817838\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T16:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:44:12","slug":"how-does-monique-akoa-makani-fit-with-sparks-long-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/817838\/","title":{"rendered":"How does Monique Akoa Makani fit with Sparks long-term?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The last thing Monique Akoa Makani expected was to be traded.<\/p>\n

A starting point guard for a team that went to the WNBA Finals last season, Akoa Makani was considered an up-and-comer for a Phoenix team that had seemingly found a winning formula.<\/p>\n

This season, the Mercury took a step backwards, sitting seven games out of a playoff spot as of Monday night.<\/p>\n

Then they made the shocking decision to trade a lottery pick and Akoa Makani to Los Angeles for Kelsey Plum.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, a lot,\u201d Akoa Makani said at practice when asked by reporters if she was surprised about the trade. \u201cI was in Chicago. Yeah, we had just landed in Chicago that night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo credit: Chris Poss<\/p>\n

After posting 3 points in 17 minutes in her Sparks debut against Chicago, Akoa Makani injured her right ankle in Minnesota the next night, following a 19-minute, 7-point outing where she was on the floor late in the game to help the Sparks close out their best win of the season.<\/p>\n

So she didn\u2019t get the revenge game against her former team, Phoenix, a game where Plum didn\u2019t face off against her old squad, either.<\/p>\n

But Akoa Makani projects to be one of the pieces in the Sparks\u2019 second attempt at a rebuild this decade. With two lottery picks in the upcoming draft, Cameron Brink, Rae Burrell (who is a restricted free agent) and Akoa Makani, they have the semblance of a core to build around.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer defense, whether it\u2019s off-ball, on-ball, and I said it after the game, but every team has their own verbiage and vernacular, and it\u2019s different than the other team,\u201d said Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts. \u201cShe\u2019s come in and picked it up quick, which speaks to her intelligence. But she\u2019s a great human being. She\u2019s full of gratitude, and humility, and confidence in what she\u2019s able to do. That\u2019s a great combo.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite the pivot from the win-now, veteran-laden roster they attempted before the season. It became clear by mid-July when the Sparks fired general manager Raegan Pebley that the Sparks were going to have to take a step back.<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani hasn\u2019t played since August 6 in Minnesota, and the Sparks had to do some roster shuffling, first attempting to poach Ashlon Jackson from her developmental deal in Connecticut and releasing Kiana Williams before signing Tonie Morgan.<\/p>\n

But her acquisition says a lot more about the Sparks\u2019 intentions for building for the future. They could pick No. 1 overall and get JuJu Watkins and now have two cracks at it, but even with mid first-round picks, they\u2019ll add talent to go alongside the aforementioned trio.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Roberts) said she was very happy to have me, even though she knew I was probably going through a very tough time,\u201d Akoa Makani told reporters. \u201cAnd that she completely understood my situation. She just wanted me to know that I was very wanted here. And she was very excited about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani adds a defensive skill set the Sparks have lacked this season, and having her in the fold shows a commitment to building in that area.<\/p>\n

She is also shooting 40.7% from 3-point range, giving the Sparks another shooter to space their offense, especially now that Plum isn\u2019t in the mix.<\/p>\n

The Sparks have a lot of decisions to make in the offseason. Both Dearica Hamby and Ariel Atkins are on deals for two more seasons at over $1 million per year, and Erica Wheeler has another year left, too.<\/p>\n

Losing Plum gives them a bit of cap space, but it seems clear they\u2019re about to lock in on building a true roster that can last this time.<\/p>\n

Akoa Makani is a great addition for that.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s an explosive athlete,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a great trade. I think we got a really good one. She\u2019s only in the second year of her contract, has played a lot of basketball internationally, isn\u2019t afraid of the moment, just really poised. And in that game down the stretch of Minnesota, she was phenomenal. Defensively, so good. And hit a couple big shots, too. Got a couple and-ones. We\u2019re pleased with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site<\/a>, our podcast<\/a>, and our social media accounts on Twitter<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n