L.A. Sparks Respond To Concerns About Male Practice Players

The WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks sparked some controversy a few days ago when they announced plans to hold practice player tryouts for men. The announcement immediately raised eyebrows and even made star Cameron Brink publicly uncomfortable.

But the Sparks have made it clear that they're not setting out to make anyone feel uneasy by bringing men into their facilities.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, a spokesperson stated that the Sparks, Phoenix Mercury and Dallas Wings have all engaged in the practice for years and years. But they made it clear that they have a number of checks in place to ensure that everyone stays safe in spite of the male players' presence.

“The Los Angeles Sparks are committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all our players and want to emphasize that player safety remains our top priority," the team said in a statement.

"To clarify, as always for our practice squad tryouts, no Sparks players will participate or be in attendance. The use of male practice players is a well-established practice in both the WNBA and women’s college basketball, and the Sparks have utilized this approach since the league’s inception in 1997.

"Additionally, any players selected for the practice squad will undergo a thorough background check process to ensure the safety and well-being of our athletes.”