Grace Berger, a promising guard in the WNBA, finds herself navigating the challenging terrain of professional basketball after being waived again, this time by the Los Angeles Sparks. She signed a hardship contract with the team on Tuesday, only to be released just days later on Friday as the Sparks welcomed Kelsey Plum back from injury. This situation is unfortunately not uncommon in the WNBA, where several players experience similar cycles of temporary signings and subsequent waivers, especially during injury crises.
In her brief tenure with the Sparks, Berger had a tough outing, going scoreless and recording three turnovers in 16 minutes during a significant loss to the Seattle Storm. Her performance highlights the fierce competition within the league and the pressure young players face to quickly adapt and make an impact.
Berger, who was selected as the 7th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, has had a challenging start to her professional career. Over two seasons with the Fever, she averaged 3.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, demonstrating potential with shooting percentages of 44.1% from the field and an impressive 46.2% from beyond the arc. After her stint with the Fever, she spent training camp with the Minnesota Lynx but was waived once the season commenced.
At just 26 years old, Berger still has the opportunity to showcase her skills and find a team that fits her style of play. The WNBA landscape can be unpredictable, but her college background as a standout from Indiana Hoosiers suggests that she has the talent to bounce back. With determination and resilience, there is hope for Berger to make a return to the league and carve out a successful career in professional basketball.