Sparks fire head coach Roberts after 2 seasons

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  Ramona ShelburneSep 25, 2026, 01:28 PM ET

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  • Senior writer for ESPN.com
  • Spent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News

The Los Angeles Sparks dismissed head coach Lynne Roberts Friday morning after the team missed the playoffs under her leadership for the second straight season, sources told ESPN.

Roberts was hired in November 2024 after a strong run at the University of Utah tasked with steering the franchise through a major roster rebuild around No. 2 overall 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 the team, 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 LA. 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."