How South Carolina's Ta'Niya Latson is fitting in with Sparks in WNBA rookie season

The Los Angeles Sparks are trying to string wins together, and rookie guard Ta'Niya Latson's role in the system is still a work in progress.

Latson spent one season with South Carolina women's basketball and Dawn Staley after three at Florida State. For the Gamecocks, her role mirrored what she's experiencing at the professional level, where strong defense and an ability to create with other stars on the floor is necessary for playing time.

She scored seven points with six assists, five rebounds and a block in her WNBA preseason debut against Nigeria on April 25, but is now averaging 2.9 minutes and 0.7 points across her first three regular-season games.

From draft night and throughout training camp, coach Lynne Roberts called Latson a steal multiple times because she was available at pick No. 20 in the second round when most projected her as an early first-rounder.

Roberts also said she expects her to be in the rotation and Latson's lack of minutes so far isn't a necessarily red flag considering how few games have been played and because the Sparks starters are still learning to gel.

How does Latson carve a role over the next few months?

"They've been pretty clear they want to bring her along slowly," said Marisa Ingemi, who covers the Sparks for the Los Angeles Times. "Roberts has said a few times it's really hard to be a rookie point guard in this league. She's looked a little bit like the speed of the game has caught up with her at times ... but you see the talent there, her court vision, her ability, and she's somebody that's going to be a good player for them long term but definitely taking her a minute to get adjusted."

Ta'Niya Latson and the Los Angeles Sparks

Last season, veteran guard Kelsey Plum was traded from the Las Vegas Aces to the Sparks, and she has been their dominant, reliable scorer. In April, she called Latson a "phenomenal" player who made a "transformational jump" after transferring to South Carolina, a move that Plum said was mature in understanding how she wants to grow.

In addition to Plum, who is taking 16 shots a game and averaging 26.8 points, Latson's also on a roster with guards Ariel Atkins and Erica Wheeler, who both have at least nine WNBA seasons under their belts.

"I think they would like to her get minutes up, I think they like her as a reliable bench option," Ingemi said. "I think for Latson to get more playing time, upping her defense a little bit which she did last year at South Carolina, she just needs to take that next step."

Latson ran the show at Florida State, averaging 21 or more points, but was the main scoring option. Given the depth and talent of the league, it's rare a rookie walks into a scenario where she has the keys to the offense.

Latson transferred to South Carolina to learn how to not be the star scorer, and by playing with Raven Johnson, her off ball movement and production increase. Now she's bouncing between learning the point or shooting guard spot with the Sparks.

"The Sparks play so positionless generally, they have people moving all over the place. I think it will be a good opportunity for Latson to just kind of fit in whenever they need somebody in the back court," Ingemi said.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Ta'Niya Latson WNBA rookie update with Sparks for South Carolina star