It’s a new era for Sania Feagin.
She’s no longer part of South Carolina women’s basketball’s roster, and is now trying to make the WNBA roster for the Los Angeles Sparks after getting drafted by the franchise on April 14.
Advertisement
Feagin went No. 21 overall (second round), right behind teammates Bree Hall and Te-Hina Paopao.
Training camp for the WNBA starts April 27, with the season beginning on May 14. Each WNBA team has a minimum roster size of 11 players and a maximum of 12, which means every player drafted still has to earn a roster spot.
On April 17, Feagin along with the Sparks’ three other rookies spoke in a virtual press conference alongside general manager Raegan Pebley and coach Lynne Roberts.
“(Feagin) comes from a program that has had bigs that have transitioned really well into the WNBA,” Pebley said. “She’s been mentored really well. Staying committed to a process, people keep saying that about her but a lot of people don’t know what that means in real life.”
Advertisement
Feagin completed her senior season with coach Dawn Staley shooting a team-high 60.1% from the field, averaging 8.1 points per game as a 6-foot-4 forward. Before her season as a starter, she sat behind Kamilla Cardoso, Aliyah Boston, Laeticia Amihere and Victaria Saxton, all now currently in the WNBA.
“Waiting your turn is way harder than people realize,” Pebley said. “To be able to come in every single day, it’s not just about game day, the press conferences and the wins. It’s about the every single day in practice and what that means. We definitely filtered that in our choice of Sania, and just her toughness and resiliency that she has.”
The Sparks also drafted SEC star Sarah Ashlee Barker, who spent three years at Alabama after beginning her career at Georgia. Feagin didn’t play Barker this year as she was dealing with a foot injury on Jan. 16 when the Gamecocks were in Tuscaloosa, but the two were asked as now teammates, what skills they see in each other.
“She is someone who is going to play on both sides of the floor and give it her all,” Barker said. “She waited her turn but did it in the most humble and respectful way. She’s truly put in the work, she’s tried to be her best self every single day and that’s just me watching from afar, I’m not even on the team and you can tell that by how she acts and plays.”
Advertisement
Throughout the season, Feagin spoke in-depth about the process of becoming a leader for Staley, and transforming into a new role on and off the court the last year or so. Even though she’s right back down to rookie status in LA, what she dedicated so much time to developing this season isn’t going anywhere.
“Nothing should change,” Feagin said. “I feel like me being vocal should still carry on to me being a pro and a rookie. No matter what I should still use my voice and be who I am.”
CHANGES ARE HERE: MiLaysia Fulwiley thanks Dawn Staley, South Carolina fans as she enters transfer portal
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: LA Sparks: Sania Feagin impressed GM while playing for South Carolina
