Lynne Roberts was fired as head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday after two seasons. Roberts finished with a 37-51 overall record and missed the playoffs in both years, extending the franchise's lottery streak to six consecutive seasons.

"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," said Sparks special advisor Farhan Zaidi. "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."

Roberts had completed the second season of a four-year contract that included a team option for a fifth year, according to sources with knowledge of the terms who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. The deal was not fully guaranteed. Because the Sparks fired Roberts without cause, the team owes her the lesser of one year or her remaining base salary, amounting to $950,000 based on her scheduled Year 3 pay.

Roberts joined the Sparks after a decade as head coach at the University of Utah, where she led the program to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Los Angeles valued her offensive approach and player development background, which was evident early on when the Sparks fielded the best offense in WNBA history to miss the playoffs during her first season.

The roster underwent significant changes ahead of the 2026 season, and Roberts struggled to find consistent footing afterward. General manager Raegan Pebley was let go in July, and franchise player Kelsey Plum was traded shortly after, leaving Roberts as the final departure in a broader organizational reset.

The Sparks hired Ariana Andonian, formerly of the Philadelphia 76ers, as general manager earlier this month. Zaidi, who serves as a special advisor to owner Mark Walter, has taken on a more prominent role in basketball operations. Los Angeles also hired a new team president before this season, the eighth person to hold that role since 2019, along with assistant general managers Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen, whose status with the organization remains unclear.