The Los Angeles Sparks dismissed head coach Lynne Roberts on Friday morning after the team missed the playoffs under her leadership for the second straight season.
"We are grateful to Lynne for the commitment and determination she brought to the role, which was evident all the way through our last game last night" said Sparks special adviser Farhan Zaidi. "Lynne has cared deeply about our organization and for our players and their development. We sincerely thank her for everything she has invested in the Sparks and wish her and her family the best moving forward."
Roberts was hired in November 2024 after a strong run at the University of Utah. She was tasked with steering the franchise through a major roster rebuild around No. 2 pick Cameron Brink. That rebuild took several turns, however, as the team added veteran free agents like Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike and traded away former first-round pick Rickea Jackson for Ariel Atkins.
Midway through this season, as injuries and losses mounted, the Sparks pivoted once again by trading Plum to Phoenix for a package highlighted by the Mercury's own first-round pick in this season's draft and Monique Akoa Makani. With Ogwumike retiring after this season, the franchise is poised to restart its rebuild in earnest around new general manager Ariana Andonian, who was hired last month to replace former general manager Raegan Pebley.
Roberts went a combined 37-50 in her two seasons in L.A. Asked about her tenure before Thursday's season finale, Roberts said: "I think we've had two tough years of injuries, and I'm not trying to blame anything on that, it's just the reality. There has been a lot of change. Our president's been here ... four months. So just again, so much change."
