Lynne Roberts’ start as the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks was doomed the moment it became public in November 2024. The roster had many talented players, including the second overall pick that year, Cameron Brink. However, injury bug and inconsistencies kept getting to them. Things never really changed with Roberts.

This offseason, willing to go all the way with their offensive-minded head coach, the Sparks made some tough calls: trade away their dual-way forward Rickea Jackson, sign veteran Nneka Ogwumike and Kelsey Plum, and much more. Only to see losses pile up. By their season finale, Roberts already knew the call she was going to get. Her phone finally rang on Friday morning.

“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,” Special Advisor Farhan Zaidi said on Friday. “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.”

LA officially parted ways with Roberts on September 25, a day after closing their 2026 season with a 76-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. She was hired after a productive run with the NCAA’s Utah Utes, where she transformed Alissa Pili into an offensive threat for opponents. The forward eventually became a first-round pick in 2024. But more importantly, the Sparks looked at the way she transformed the entire culture of the Utes.

Roberts was a Division I coach for twenty years, nine of which came in Utah. Along the way, she won Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023 while bringing championship mentality to the team with three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Sparks were looking to get just that after firing four head coaches in just as many years.

Since 2022, the Sparks have parted ways with Derek Fisher, Fred Williams, Curt Miller, and now Roberts. She ends her LA tenure with a 37-51 record over her two seasons, missing the playoffs both times, as the team ended the season with a 16-28 record, good for the tenth seed. As far as she is concerned, though, she had a hint about what’s to come.

Lynne Roberts addresses her LA exit in season finale as the Sparks scramble with many candidates

The timing of the firing is also notable considering the season the Sparks had. Despite starting the season with hopes of making it back to the playoffs, the season was completely derailed by injuries to their veteran additions, and instead of accelerating the rebuild around Cameron Brink, everything fell apart.

Kelsey Plum, acquired before the season started, was traded to the Phoenix Mercury at the midseason break. With franchise legend Nneka Ogwumike retiring at the end of the season, it makes sense that the Sparks turn over a new leaf. Roberts was also aware of the possibility.

“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,” she said. “There has been a lot of change. Our president’s been here four months. So just again, so much change.”

Now, the Sparks have enough on their plate to make a decision about who follows Roberts.

Some coaching candidates fit to lead the Sparks

• Lindsey Harding: Not all NCAA coaches making a move to the WNBA are bad. In fact, Karl Smesko, who was hired just weeks before Roberts to lead the Atlanta Dream, has already turned the franchise around. But maybe the Sparks want to give that pipe dream a break and focus on someone who has professional experience. With Harding, they won’t even have to look beyond their sister NBA franchise: the LA Lakers.
  The former WNBA player has been with the Lakers for two years as an assistant coach and was reportedly the New York Liberty’s preference. Before that, she spent four seasons as the head coach of the Sacramento Kings’ G League affiliate in Stockton, where she was named Coach of the Year in 2023-24.
• Teresa Weatherspoon: Another familiar name in the WNBA world who had her first head coaching stint in the league with the Chicago Sky in 2024. Things didn’t work out exactly how she had wanted, but she set a good example with player morale in the building because she certainly had the respect of her players, the biggest supporter being Angel Reese.
  Since her Chicago exit, she has been a head coach in the Unrivaled league, but a WNBA role isn’t far away with the style of play she helped the Sky achieve.
• Kristi Toliver: The former WNBA player is yet another consideration. After multiple stints in the NBA, she returned to the Phoenix Mercury as an assistant. She has often taken Nate Tibbett’s place in case he is absent from the game.
• Others: If the team still wants to pursue NCAA coaches, a really attractive name would be the reigning champions’ head coach: UCLA’s Cori Close. They could also look into the professional background with Eric Thubault (asst. Minnesota Lynx), Brittni Donaldson (asst. Portland Fire), and Jenny Boucek (asst. Indiana Pacers).

No matter who the Sparks sign now, fans have already made clear what they think about Roberts’ firing.

WNBA Fans Have Plenty to Say About Lynne Roberts’ Firing and the Sparks’ Next Move

Fans quickly flooded the comments section of the Sparks’ announcement of Lynne Roberts’ firing, and while many were happy with the move, some fans also questioned the moves that shaped the roster around her.

The most direct reaction left little room for interpretation, as one fan saw the Roberts firing as a decision that had arrived after a long wait instead of a surprising move.

“Couldn’t have happened fast enough lol,” the fan wrote.

Another user focused on what the team should do next, highlighting that the Sparks face a challenge. Firing Roberts is one decision, but finding a coach who can establish continuity and bring the team back to the playoffs is easier said than done.

“Find the right coach that has winning experience and get the culture back to winning,” their comment read.

One fan took the criticism even further with a more detailed assessment of her tenure.

“Huge mistake to bring her in. She disorganised the progress of last season. I still dont understand how we gave Rickea [Jackson] for an older ineffective player. Bring back Camille Little and build a proper team. Use charms to get Juju,” the post read.

That comment refers to the Jackson-Ariel Atkins trade LA made with the Chicago Sky, giving up the #4 pick from the 2024 draft for an established star who proceeded to have the worst season of her career. The fan’s solution of bringing back former assistant Camille Little and landing USC star JuJu Watkins is wishful thinking, but shows just how monumental a rebuild the team faces.

On the lighter end of reactions, one fan jokingly floated the idea of a recently retired Sparks legend taking on the coaching role.

“oh, congratulations on your new job, nneka ogwumike!” the fan wrote.

Another reaction summed up the most common sentiment the Sparks received online.

“Already moving in the right direction,” the comment read.

Only time will tell if the Roberts firing is enough to put the Sparks back in the right direction when it comes to their rebuild, but fans are clear that this is a good move in the right direction.