Sania Feagin Waived by Sparks: What’s Next, and What Ta’Niya Latson’s Situation Means for Her Future in L.A.
The Los Angeles Sparks have officially waived second-year forward Sania Feagin, a move driven by roster math, injury misfortune, and a specific positional need the team couldn’t ignore. But with another former South Carolina Gamecock — Ta’Niya Latson — still on the roster and struggling with her own transition, the Sparks’ housecleaning may not be finished yet.
Why Feagin Was Let Go
The immediate trigger for Feagin’s release was Los Angeles’ pursuit of guard Kiana Williams, who had been with the Phoenix Mercury on a developmental contract. The Sparks needed a backup point guard off the bench — a specific, positional need — and Williams was their target. To sign her, they needed a roster spot. Feagin was the player who made way.
The brutal truth is that the injury changed everything. Feagin suffered a leg injury in the first week of the regular season, missed nearly a month, and returned only to appear in three games — totaling just 10 minutes of action, with two assists and a rebound. That kind of absence makes it nearly impossible to build a case for yourself, no matter how much potential the coaching staff believes you have.
And the potential was there. Entering 2026, Feagin had a strong preseason, averaging 8.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in two games — flashing the kind of two-way impact that made her a second-round pick in the first place. The regular season never gave her a chance to carry that momentum forward.
Her rookie year numbers — 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, and 0.3 assists across 16 games — reflected a player who didn’t yet have a defined role. The 2026 preseason suggested she was ready to carve one out. The injury closed that window before she could step through it.
What’s Next for Feagin
Feagin could be claimed off waivers, though that outcome is considered unlikely given the timing and the league’s roster dynamics. More probable is that she clears waivers entirely, opening the door to a developmental contract somewhere — though the Sparks have already filled both of their developmental spots, ruling out any immediate path back to Los Angeles in that capacity.
At 23 years old, 6’3″, with championship pedigree — two NCAA titles at South Carolina, SEC All-Defensive Team honors in 2025, and FIBA 3×3 U23 Women’s World Cup MVP in 2024 — Feagin is far from a player whose professional story is over. She spent the offseason playing for the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL, demonstrating the commitment to development that young big women need to sustain a professional career.
The right team, the right role, and a full healthy season could change the narrative quickly. What Feagin needs more than anything is an opportunity she hasn’t yet been given — consistent minutes without an injury stealing them away.
The Ta’Niya Latson Question
With Feagin gone, the more pressing subplot now centers on fellow former Gamecock Ta’Niya Latson, and whether she’s next.
Los Angeles has been attempting to convert Latson into a backup point guard — a positional transition that has not gone smoothly. Latson has struggled with the adjustment, and the Sparks have already pivoted, signing Williams specifically to fill that backup guard role Latson couldn’t reliably provide.
That sequence of events raises a direct question: if the Sparks just signed a player to do the job Latson was supposed to do, what is Latson’s role on this roster going forward?
The situation is precarious. Latson appeared in fewer games than Kate Martin, a developmental contract player, and the same logic that made Feagin expendable — not having claimed a rotation spot, not contributing enough minutes to justify the roster space — applies to Latson’s position as well. With Williams now in the mix and the Sparks clearly prioritizing functional backup guard play, Latson’s path to consistent minutes has narrowed considerably.
This doesn’t mean a waiver is imminent, but the organizational signals are not encouraging. The Sparks didn’t acquire Williams as a complement to Latson. They acquired her as a solution to the problem Latson couldn’t solve. That distinction matters when roster decisions get made.
The Bigger Picture: Former Gamecocks in the League
With Feagin’s release, there are now 12 former South Carolina Gamecocks in the WNBA — a testament to the pipeline Dawn Staley has built in Columbia. Among them, Bree Hall is on a developmental contract with the Indiana Fever but has yet to appear in a game this season, placing her in similarly uncertain territory.
The WNBA roster landscape is unforgiving, especially for young players still proving themselves. Feagin’s situation is a reminder of how quickly circumstances can shift — a strong preseason undone by a first-week injury, and a roster spot gone before the season found its footing.
For Latson, the window to prove her value in Los Angeles is narrowing. The Sparks have made their positional priorities clear. What happens next depends entirely on whether she can find a role in a system that has already begun looking past her for answers.
