Sparks acquire Kristi Tolliver in trade

Here's the official release from Sparks HQ:

LOS ANGELES SPARKS ACQUIRE THE RIGHTS TO GUARD KRISTI TOLIVER
Sparks Trade 2011 Second Round Draft Pick

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks have acquired the rights to guard Kristi Toliver, it was announced today by Sparks Vice President/General Manager Penny Toler. In a deal with the Chicago Sky, the Sparks traded their 2011 second round draft pick for the rights to Toliver.

Toliver was selected in the first round and third overall, by the Chicago Sky in the 2009 WNBA Draft. In her rookie season she played in 27 games off the bench and averaged 7.6 points, 1.9 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.

"We are thrilled because yet another exciting and talented player is joining our team" said Sparks Vice President and General Manager Penny Toler. "Kristi is a dynamic player and we're happy she is joining the Sparks family."

In 2009, Toliver led all rookies and was second overall in the WNBA in three-point shooting at 44.4 percent. She also ranked 8th among all rookies in assists and had a breakout game on August 28th when she scored a career-best 25 points in a win against the New York Liberty.

"I am very happy about having Kristi join our the team," said Sparks Head Coach Jennifer Gillom. "We are adding a remarkable guard with a lot of versatility to an already great roster. It's a blessing to be able to add this caliber of guard to your team; she is a combo guard who will be able to complement our existing squad."

During her stand-out career at Maryland, Toliver was honored as a Preseason Wade Trophy Candidate and a Midseason Naismith Award Candidate. She was also named to the AP All-American 2nd Team, the Sports Illustrated All-American 2nd Team, and First Team All-ACC.She was awarded the Nancy Lieberman Award twice being the first 'Terp to do so, and was named the WNIT Most Valuable Player. She finished her collegiate career as the 25th player in school history to score 1,000 points, ranking 11th with 1,433 points, and holds the school's record for career free throw percentage with .870 and three point field goals made with 209.

The Los Angeles Sparks tip-off the 2010 WNBA season on Saturday, May 15th against the Defending Champion Phoenix Mercury at 11:00 am on ESPN2 and then open at home at STAPLES Center on May 28 at 7:30pm versus the Washington Mystics. To purchase tickets for Opening Night, visit www.LASparks.com or call 877-44-SPARKS.

General Manager Penny Toler is amazing with trades.

This also went down today for the Sparks:

The Los Angeles Sparks waived LaToya Pringle, Lisa Willis and Rashidat Junaid

So the only bigs left now besides Candace Parker and Tina Thompson are Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, who didn't seem like much last week, and Tiffany Stansbury, who we haven't even seen play yet.

I guess I'm wondering why the Sparks went for yet another guard when they could use a true center, because neither Parker nor Thompson are that.

This is the Sparks roster, with today's cut players still on it:

2010 Roster
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS
6 Shannon Bobbitt G 5-2 130 12/06/1985 Tennessee 2
24 Marie Ferdinand-Harris G 5-9 153 10/13/1978 LSU 8
43 Rashidat Junaid C 6-4 11/29/1987 Rutgers R
22 Betty Lennox G 5-8 143 12/04/1976 Louisiana Tech 10
8 DeLisha Milton-Jones F 6-1 185 09/11/1974 Florida 11
3 Candace Parker F 6-4 175 04/19/1986 Tennessee 2
21 Ticha Penicheiro G 5-11 146 09/18/1974 Old Dominion '98/Portugal 12
30 LaToya Pringle F-C 6-3 162 09/11/1986 North Carolina 2
45 Noelle Quinn G 6-0 175 01/03/1985 UCLA 3
10 Andrea Riley G 5-5 07/22/1988 Oklahoma State R
44 Tiffany Stansbury F-C 6-3 183 01/16/1983 North Carolina State 2
20 Bianca Thomas G 5-10 08/20/1988 Mississippi R
32 Tina Thompson F 6-2 178 02/10/1975 USC 13
Lisa Willis G 6-1 170 06/13/1984 UCLA 4
14 Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton F 6-2 186 05/26/1986 Purdue 1

Take out those three players, and there is still one more cut to make to get the roster to 11 by tomorrow.

WHO WILL IT BE????????????????????