Sparks ready to move forward with new coach Roberts

LOS ANGELES -- The Sparks haven't had the greatest 2024. They ended with the worst record in the league at 8-32. And then at the draft lottery, luck wasn't on their side when the Wings got the #1 pick. The Sparks did get the #2 pick, though.

But this week, they seem to be on a clean slate. The University of Utah's Lynne Roberts was hired as the next person to be on the coaching helm of the Sparks. She was formally introduced as the head coach in a press conference on Thursday afternoon with Sparks players Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, and Rae Burrell in attendance.

"There were three main things," Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said. "We wanted a smart basketball mind that saw the game in a forward-thinking way. We wanted somebody that was a developer: a developer of program, a developer of people, a developer of skill. When I say develop, I mean more nurturer.

"That means you have to be a great leader. So that was the third thing we were really looking for was just an excellent leader. Somebody who was transformational. Not just to an offense and an defense but to people, to a community. We knew that's what Los Angeles deserved and it's definitely what we know that women that put on the Sparks jersey deserve every single day."

With the college basketball season underway, Roberts made the jump from Utah to the professional ranks in Los Angeles. Why make the jump now?

"I have long conversations with Raegan on the phone and we have a pre-existing friendship," Roberts said. "I was 100 percent invested at Utah. I wasn't looking to leave or anything like that; I had just signed a six-year extension. I talked to Raegan a few times, I talked to (team governor Eric Holoman), I talked to some other people, and it just kind of felt like... this is a golden opportunity.

"As a competitor, the chance to coach the best in the world, that's what I want."

The Sparks are in their longest playoff drought in franchise history as they have not made the postseason since the Wubble season in 2020. Roberts was asked about the expectations of the team, even if she's just coming into the Sparks.

"I think we've got an incredible core group," Roberts said. "We've got kind of a cool combination of some veteran leadership. (Dearica Hamby) is one. (Azurá Stevens) is one. Lexie (Brown). And then we've got a really dynamic young group with Rickea (Jackson), (Cameron Brink), Rae (Burrell), Zia (Cooke)... that's a good roster right there. We can keep working with it but I believe in the guys we have now. We'll add to it but heck, yeah, I wanna make the playoffs."

Roberts was known for using analytics for her offense. In 2023-24, the Utes under Roberts shot 95 percent of their shots from behind the three-point line, at the rim, or in the paint. The new head coach talked about bringing that offense into the Sparks, who were in the bottom three in offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) last season. 

"If you're talking about points per shot attempt, the highest quality shot for points per shot attempt is around the rim and threes," Roberts said. "Threes are more worth than two. I didn't major in math but I can verify that. And around the rim, obviously, it's a higher percentage shot. Theoretically, those are the best shots if we're talking about shot quality.

"It's not a hard-line rule, though," Roberts emphasized. "My whole thing is predicated on shot quality and making sure players understand why it's a good shot, why it's not a good shot. But you have to tailor it to your personnel. You can't just say 'this is what we're gonna do.' You have to tailor it specifically to what your players are really good at. But everything we do will be predicated on quality shot selection." 

This all sounds very promising. Brink certainly didn't hide her enthusiasm.

"I'm so excited," Brink said. "I played against her for four years (in college). I always remember looking over at the sidelines and, first of all, thinking she's incredibly dressed, which I love as a fashionista. But I also love how she rides for her players. She's protective, she'll go at a ref, like I just really appreciate that. We had a great conversation two days ago. I just really feel like she knows how I operate as a player and it's kind of like a win for me to be coached by her. I've always admired her."

Brink also talked about what her new coach will bring to the table.

"I'm lucky to kind of have observed how her offense works," Brink mused. "So I'll just be working on my touch around the rim and my threes."

Roberts has a 386-291 (.570) record in college and was Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023. She took the Utes to the Sweet Sixteen that same year. Pebley mentioned that every program she left better than when she found it. It's hard to argue against results.

With the announcement that the Sparks are making plans to build a new facility as well as the introduction of a new head coach, the team is hoping that Roberts will make the squad better than when she found it.