The Los Angeles Sparks hired Lynne Roberts to be the 16th coach in franchise history, the team announced Tuesday.
Roberts joins the Sparks after nearly 20 years as a Division I coach, the last nine coming at Utah where she won Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023 and guided the Utes to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
“First and foremost, Lynne’s leadership and integrity stand out,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said in a statement. “Her ability to partner with players while creating a winning culture will translate as we continue our path toward championship contention. Lynne has a dynamic and forward-thinking offensive mind, and her up-tempo style fits perfectly with the way we want to play.”
Roberts is the second NCAA coach to jump to the WNBA during this hiring cycle, following Karl Smesko of Florida Gulf Coast, who the Atlanta Dream introduced earlier Tuesday. The Sparks and the Dream enlisted search firms — L.A. went with TurnkeyZRG and Atlanta used Korn Ferry — to find their coaches, and the processes produced similar outcomes.
Lynne Roberts named head coach of the LA Sparks. https://t.co/ZIRgZSNI9l pic.twitter.com/l9RjAsARpS
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) November 20, 2024
Roberts was well-regarded for her offensive imagination as the…
