Sharife Cooper Returns to Liaoning Flying Leopards

Sharife Cooper, a free agent guard, has signed with the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association after spending the previous season with the Washington Wizards.

Cooper, who was drafted 48th overall by Atlanta in 2021, played one season in the NBA before competing in the G League and overseas. He previously played for Liaoning in 2024, contributing to their CBA championship victory, and has also played in Turkey, Greece, and France.

During the 2025/26 season, Cooper was on a two-way contract with the Wizards, participating in 41 games and averaging 8.1 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 rebounds. The Wizards chose not to extend a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. Liaoning has also signed Kyler Edwards, a former Texas Tech and Houston shooting guard, who has experience in various international leagues.