Sparks Reportedly Fire Lynne Roberts After Missing WNBA Playoffs for 2nd Straight Season

After going 37-51 in two seasons under Lynne Roberts, the Los Angeles Sparks are making a change at head coach.

Per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Sparks fired Roberts on Friday after missing the playoffs in both years with her at the helm.

Following Thursday's 76-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries to cap off the Sparks' 2026 season, Roberts was asked if she felt like she had done enough to earn a third year as head coach.

"Yeah I think I have," she answered. "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."

Roberts was hired in November 2024 by the previous front-office regime led by team president Christine Monjer and general manager Raegan Pebley.

Monjer stepped down in April and was replaced by Stacy Johns. Pebley and the Sparks announced a split on July 12 after the team got off to a 10-11 start this season.

Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen, who were assistants under Pebley, are currently serving as interim co-general managers for the Sparks.

Players who were expected to be key contributors have dealt with injuries. Cameron Brink has only played in 65 games through her first three seasons, though she did appear in a career-high 31 games in 2026.

Kelsey Plum was limited to 12 games due to an ankle sprain, then the Sparks traded her to the Phoenix Mercury in August.

The Sparks finished 16-28 this season under Roberts. They have missed the playoffs in six consecutive years, the longest active drought in the WNBA.

Los Angeles has now gone through four different head coaches since 2022. Derek Fisher left midway through the 2022 campaign, leading to Fred Williams finishing the year as interim head coach.

Curt Miller went 25-55 in two seasons before being replaced by Roberts going into the 2025 campaign.