The Los Angeles Sparks have a new general manager.
The Sparks are hiring Philadelphia 76ers Vice President of Player Personnel Ariana Andonian as their new GM, a person familiar with the situation confirmed to USA TODAY on Friday, Sept. 4. They spoke under the condition of anonymity because the person isn't authorized to publicly comment on the matter.
The Athletic first reported the news.
Andonian will succeed Raegan Pebley and look to turn around a struggling franchise that'll miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. The Sparks were 39-66 during Pebley's three-year tenure and currently sit 11th in the standings with a 15-25 record. Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen, who previously served as assistants to Pebley before her termination
in July, shared interim GM duties before the franchise tapped Andonian.
With the move, Andonian, a California native, will return her home state, where she graduated from USC with a philosophy degree in politics, law and sports media studies. She'll bring significant NBA experience to the role.
Andonian has served as the 76ers' VP of player personnel since September 2024, leading the team's scouting department. Her role within the organization expanded a year later when she was named the general manager of Philadelphia's G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, becoming the team's first female GM.
Prior to joining the 76ers, Andonian spent four years with the Memphis Grizzlies as the director of player personnel. She also worked as a scouting consultant for the Houston Rockets in 2015 and served as a player personnel consultant for Duke’s men’s basketball team under Mike Krzyzewski while getting her MBA.
Andonian will be tasked with restoring the Sparks' franchise, one of the WNBA's eight founding members, back to glory. Los Angeles last won a championship in 2016 and last made the postseason in 2020, with five different head coaches in that span.
Andonian's first order of business may be determining the future of current head coach Lynne Roberts, who has led the Sparks to a 36-48 record in two seasons at the helm. Some of this season's woes, however, can be attributed to injuries.
The Sparks traded Rickea Jackson for Ariel Atkins this offseason and signed former MVP Nneka Ogwumike, who later announced she'll retire at the end of the season. Los Angeles traded Kelsey Plum, a five-time All-Star and two-time champion, to the Phoenix Mercury ahead of the trade deadline in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Sparks to name 76ers executive Ariana Andonian as new GM
