The Los Angeles Sparks wasted no time entering the WNBA offseason.
On Friday, the team announced they “have parted ways” with head coach Lynne Roberts. She coached the Sparks for two seasons. ESPN was the first to report.
In a press
release, the Sparks thanked Roberts for her time leading the team.
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. 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 did not make an official statement, but she did mention during the team’s last game against the Valkyries that she felt she did enough to remain in the position:
Yeah, I think I have. I think again, 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.
This decision wasn’t a shock. During her two years in charge, the team went 37-51 and missed the playoffs in both seasons, extending their franchise-long playoff drought to six years and counting.
Given the lack of success, the Sparks have been cleaning house. They parted ways with general manager Reahen Pebley midseason and hired Ariana Andonia to fill that role. LA also traded their superstar Kelsey Plum in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick from the Phoenix Mercury.
By parting ways with Roberts now, the team will have an entire offseason to restructure themselves and get back on track before the start of the 2027 season.
A name to keep an eye on for the Sparks head coaching job is Lakers assistant coach Lindsey Harding.
She was head coach of the G League team Stockton Kings, the affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. Harding was also connected to the Washington Mystics job in 2024 and served as the Lakers’ head coach during Summer League play in 2025.
Whether it’s Harding or another person who earns this job, what’s clear is that Roberts won’t return, and the Sparks will have their 18th different head coach when WNBA play resumes for the franchise next year.
