Approximately four hours before the Los Angeles Sparks were set to face off against the New York Liberty on Saturday, the team made a significant announcement: they had signed forward Queen Egbo to a hardship contract.
The Sparks, grappling with several roster challenges, found themselves in a tight spot due to Cameron Brink’s season-ending injury, Azura Stevens’ ongoing recovery from arm surgery, and Lexie Brown’s absence due to illness.
Queen Egbo, a standout from Baylor University who earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie team in 2022, was available after recently being waived by the Connecticut Sun earlier in the month.
Despite the short notice, Egbo was quickly brought in to bolster the Sparks’ lineup.
According to reports from the Associated Press, Egbo’s arrival in New York for the game against the Liberty was notably late the previous night, leaving the team with insufficient time to prepare a jersey specifically for her.
Resourcefully, the Sparks staff found an innovative solution—they took Karlie Samuelson’s old No. 44 jersey from the previous season and modified it with white tape to suit Egbo. Samuelson had since moved on to play with the Washington Mystics.
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This makeshift jersey solution lent a certain impromptu feel to Egbo’s debut, reminiscent of a player hastily added to a roster in scenarios like an AAU tournament or a junior varsity player being called up to the varsity team moments before a game.
This unusual situation didn’t go unnoticed by WNBA fans, who found both humor and admiration in Egbo’s last-minute addition to the team and her make-do uniform.
Despite the backdrop of roster hardships and the hurried preparations, the Sparks put forth a spirited effort in their match against the Liberty. Although the team ultimately fell with a final score of 98-88, Egbo’s brief appearance was a bright spot.
In just three minutes of play, she managed to score two points and secured two rebounds, demonstrating her capability and resilience under unconventional and challenging circumstances.
Her debut, though under less than ideal conditions, highlighted her adaptability and potential as a valuable asset to the Sparks moving forward.