Florida State Phenom Ta’Niya Latson Shatters Scoring Record in Historic NCAA Tournament Run

Rising guard Ta'Niya Latson has officially joined the Los Angeles Sparks after being selected with the No. 20 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, capping a college journey that began with record-setting numbers at Florida State and culminated in a Final Four run at South Carolina under coach Dawn Staley. Standing 5-foot-9, Latson enters a revamped Sparks backcourt hungry for instant scoring punch. As an ACC freshman she averaged 21.3 points—the second-highest mark in league history—before transferring and embracing a two-way role for the Gamecocks, where she sharpened her on-ball defense and improved her three-point accuracy to 38 percent. Sparks general manager Raquel Miller labeled Latson “a steal with starter upside,” citing her downhill explosiveness and proven big-game résumé following South Carolina’s 2026 national-title push. The franchise also values Latson’s ability to create off the dribble—an area of need after Los Angeles finished 11th in field-goal percentage last season. Key storylines to watch this summer: • Rotation fit: Latson is expected to battle veteran Lexie Brown and fellow rookie Chance Gray for minutes at shooting guard, with head coach Curt Miller hinting at three-guard lineups to unlock pace. • Hometown buzz: The Miami native’s West Coast move coincides with the Sparks’ marketing push aimed at Gen Z fans through TikTok and YouTube Shorts highlights. • Rookie-of-the-Year dark horse: If Latson’s transition mirrors her freshman breakout, Los Angeles could feature back-to-back ROY finalists for the first time since 2002-03. Latson expressed gratitude on draft night, saying she is “ready to bring energy, defense and buckets to L.A.,” while thanking Staley and former FSU coach Brooke Wyckoff for “preparing me to be fearless on any stage.” The Sparks tip off training camp May 1, and early scrimmage reps should reveal whether Latson’s electric first step translates immediately against pro length. With star forward Nneka Ogwumike returning from injury, a healthy backcourt boost from Latson could catapult the Sparks back into the playoff mix—and keep her name trending well beyond draft week.