Culver City Observer -

The Los Angeles Sparks announced today that Azurá Stevens has been activated ahead of Tuesday's game against the Seattle Storm. Stevens has missed the first five games of the season due to a back injury. As a result, Karlie Samuelson's hardship contract has been terminated. In a subsequent move, the Sparks have waived Joyner Holmes.

The Sparks signed coveted free-agent Azurá Stevens in the offseason to a multi-year contract. She holds career averages of 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 121 total games in two seasons with the Dallas Wings and three seasons with the Chicago Sky. During her time in Dallas, she contributed 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 43 games (10 starts). In her next three seasons with the Sky, she tallied 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 78 total games, helping the Sky to a WNBA Championship in 2021.

Samuelson appeared in five games this season for the Sparks, where she averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23 minutes per game.

Holmes, the 19th overall pick in the 2020 WNBA draft, appeared in five games this season for the Sparks, where she averaged 4.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 12 minutes per game.