Crystal Dangerfield is still fighting for her spot in the WNBA with the Sparks

The only thing harder than making it into the WNBA is staying. Few know that better than Sparks guard and former Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield.

The year is 2020. The Minnesota Lynx has just drafted Crystal Dangerfield in the second round. Expectations are low for her rookie campaign as she will likely be fighting for a roster spot in hopes of playing limited minutes.

Dangerfield demolished those tempered expectations by averaging 16.2 points per game en route to being named the WNBA Rookie of the Year, becoming the lowest draft pick ever to win the award as the No. 16 selection.

Fast forward to 2024 and Dangerfield is far removed from her playing days in Minnesota. Instead, she’s a player who just signed a third seven-day contract with the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday and is fighting for playing time, hoping for a chance to show what she can contribute to a WNBA team.

How does a player who was considered the best rookie four years ago end up on the outside looking in at a roster spot in the W?

“For me specifically, I wish I knew,” Dangerfield told Silver Screen & Roll. “I don’t feel like I’m getting a lot of clarity on why... In other instances, it just might be fit whatever the case may be. I feel like wherever I’ve been at, I feel I can fit, I can adapt to whatever situation.”

So far, those situations have included stops with the Minnesota Lynx, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream and the Sparks.

In her limited time, she’s given maximum effort in Los Angeles. Her best performance so far came in a blowout loss against the New York Liberty. She played 29 minutes, scored seven points and shot 3-7 from the field as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing game.

Dangerfield was rewarded with her third consecutive seven-day contract with the Sparks a day later. For her, it’s all about taking things one day at a time, one game at a time and just being herself, which is precisely who the Sparks want her to be.

“I talked to [Sparks general manager] Raegan [Pebley] before I got here, I talked to [Sparks head coach] Curt [Miller] and they want me to be Crystal Dangerfield,” she said. “I don’t get that a lot in a lot of places that I go to, teams that I go to and that’s special in and of itself. And that’s what I’m trying to do out here.”

With the Sparks at the bottom of the league and just 15 games remaining, it creates and opportunity for Dangerfield to make an impact on a team where positive play will undoubtedly stand out. If Dangerfield can provide some energy and make a positive impact, it will prove to Los Angeles and other potential suitors around the league that she belongs.

Few will ever reach the heights Dangerfield has already reached. Dangerfield played at UConn, was drafted into the WNBA and won Rookie of the Year. While her path has been shaky since then, she’s still here in the City of Angels, representing one of the most storied franchises in the league, hitting buckets, making plays and getting offers to continue playing.

Every time Dangerfield steps onto the floor, it’s her proving she belongs and forcing the league to make space for her 5’5 frame.

As her next seven-day contract begins, Dangerfield has some difficult games coming up. The Chicago Sky will be coming to town, followed by a trip to Las Vegas to play the defending champion Aces and then a game against the 18-6 Connecticut Sun.

The odds will be stacked against Dangerfield and the Sparks in all three games, but betting on her to fold has already been proven many times over to be a bad gamble.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.