LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Sparks announced that they have extended the contract of All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist DeLisha Milton-Jones to a three-year deal that would take her through the 2012 season. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Milton-Jones, an 11-year veteran, played her first six seasons for the Sparks before a three-year stint with the Washington Mystics. Over the course of her WNBA career, she holds averages of 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 299 games. Originally drafted by the Sparks with the fourth overall selection in the 1999 WNBA Draft, Milton-Jones returned to the Sparks in 2008 as the result of a trade that sent Taj McWilliams-Franklin and a 2009 first round draft pick to the Mystics. In 31 games in 2008, she averaged 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds.

"We're really happy to re-sign DeLisha," said Sparks General Manager Penny Toler. "This multi-year deal shows our commitment to her as a player and as a person. It's the same commitment that she's shown to this organization over her career. We hope that she will remain a member of the Sparks until she decides to retire.”

The 2008 season proved to be an outstanding year for Milton-Jones as she not only returned to Los Angeles and ranked third on the team in scoring and rebounding, but she also captured her second Olympic gold medal in Beijing. She recorded a career-high 38 points against the Phoenix Mercury on July 17th and finished the season ranked in the top 10 in the WNBA in seven categories.

"I'm very excited about continuing my career in Los Angeles and knowing that one day I will retire here," said Milton-Jones. "It's an environment and organization that I enjoy being a part of and I look forward to fighting for many more championships in the future.”

The Los Angeles Sparks tip-off the 2009 season at home against 2008 WNBA Champion Detroit Shock at 11:30am at the STAPLES Center on June 6th. For ticket information, visit www.lasparks.com or call 877-44-SPARKS.