LOS ANGELES -- Sparks rookie forward Sania Feagin wasn’t guaranteed a spot in the W when her name was called in the second round of the 2025 draft. But she made the opening-day roster, and halfway through her first season, she’s proving she belongs. The 6-foot-3 South Carolina rookie spoke with The Sporting Tribune on Monday, ahead of the Sparks’ matchup with the Aces, about adjusting to the W, staying confident, and becoming the youngest player rep in the WNBPA.
The Sporting Tribune: You were a second-round pick and still made the opening-day roster, an achievement in itself. Can you take me back to that moment? What was going through your mind when you found out you'd made the Sparks?
Sania Feagin: It was a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to be here, to be in the W. To actually accomplish that, it meant everything. I knew how hard it is to make a team as a rookie, so when I found out, I was just grateful. It made everything I worked for feel worth it.
TST: Now that you're midway through your rookie season, have you had a true "Welcome to the W" moment, whether on the court or off it?
Feagin: Not so much on the court, it’s more off the court. Just how fast everything moves. The timing, the schedule, how quick you’ve got to adjust. That’s when it hit me: this is the W. You’ve got to be ready and on time, always.
TST: Coach Lynne Roberts runs a fast, physical system. How have you been adjusting to his style and the team’s pace this season?
Feagin: I feel like I’m adjusting really well. At South Carolina, we played fast and physical too. But here, it’s even more intense, the speed, the physicality, the IQ you need. I feel like I’m growing every game.
TST: You carry yourself with so much confidence when you step onto the floor. Where does that confidence come from, and how do you keep it strong?
Feagin: I believe in myself. I’m here for a reason. If Coach puts me in the game, that means I belong. My faith in God keeps me grounded. I trust Him every day, I know He put me here and won’t leave me. That gives me strength, no matter what happens on the court.
TST: You come from a basketball family, both parents played, and you're one of five siblings. How did that environment shape your mindset and love for the game?
Feagin: I was always around the game. I’d go to the gym with my parents while they played, just watching and soaking it all in. Being around it that much helped me fall in love with it, and it built my IQ. I saw early on that if I really wanted it, I could go get it.
TST: There’s a lot of veteran leadership on this team. Has any advice from a teammate really stuck with you?
Feagin: Emma Cannon, for sure. Earlier in the season, I wasn’t playing much, and that was tough. But she told me to stay levelheaded. She’s been waived before, she knows the grind. She told me to keep working, every single day, and show them I’m ready. That stuck with me.
TST: Do you have any game day rituals or superstitions?
Feagin: Not really, but I have to take a nap. That’s my thing. I need that pregame nap every single time.
TST: Is there a player, past or present, in the W you look up to or study?
Feagin: I wouldn’t say there’s just one, but I do watch a lot of post players. A’ja Wilson, especially. I watch her a lot.
TST: What’s something you've learned about yourself during your rookie year so far?
Feagin: That I can stay level. I never get too high with the highs or too low with the lows. I’ve learned how to keep steady, that’s been big for me.
TST: You were named the youngest player rep in the WNBPA this season, a huge responsibility as a rookie. How did that opportunity come about?
Feagin: At the draft, they told us about it, and I knew right away I wanted to be involved. I want to help grow the league. I want to be part of something that’s bigger than me. So I locked in, told myself I could be a help, to the Sparks and to the WNBA as a whole. You can’t go wrong doing that.
Feagin may be one of the youngest players in the league, but she carries herself with poise and confidence. From carving out minutes as a second-round pick to stepping into a leadership role with the WNBPA, she’s proving that her presence in the WNBA isn’t just earned, it’s essential.