Cooper accepts Sparks' qualifying offer

Restricted free-agent guard Te'a Cooper signed the one-year qualifying offer to remain with the Los Angeles Sparks, the team announced Thursday.

Cooper averaged 9.1 points per game on an effective field-goal rate of 42.6%, adding 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 22 minutes a night.

"Te'a took on a bigger role for us last season and showed significant growth on both ends of the floor," Sparks coach and general manager Derek Fisher said in a statement. "Her ability to disrupt the game defensively as well as attack the basket on the offensive end will be important for us."

Save for a handful of overseas players with whom the Sparks maintain exclusive negotiating rights, the team's lone 2021 player yet to be brought back into the fold is unrestricted free-agent forward Nia Coffey.