Wed, Nov 20, 2024, 12:30 AM
The Los Angeles Sparks have named Lynne Roberts head coach, the group introduced Tuesday. The Redding, California native brings 27 seasons of collegiate girls’s basketball teaching expertise, together with the previous 18 as a Division I head coach. Roberts most not too long ago helmed the College of Utah’s group for nine-plus seasons, the place she led the Utes to 3 consecutive NCAA Match berths and was named 2023 Pac-12 Coach of the 12 months.
“Lynne is an impressive coach and chief,” Sparks Governor and Managing Companion Eric Holoman mentioned. “We’re thrilled to carry her many years of successful teaching expertise to our group. By means of our complete worldwide search, Lynne’s fashionable view of basketball, her communication abilities, and talent to construct relationships made her the proper selection for the position.”
“At first, Lynne’s management and integrity stand out. Her capability to associate with gamers whereas making a successful tradition will translate as we proceed our path towards championship rivalry. Lynne has a dynamic and forward-thinking offensive thoughts, and her up-tempo fashion matches completely with the best way we wish to play,” Basic Supervisor Raegan Pebley added. “We love how she maximized her expertise at Utah in one of many nation’s strongest conferences. We’re honored to welcome Lynne and her household to Los Angeles.”
The veteran coach was employed by Utah in 2015, going 18-15 in her first yr after taking on a 9-21 group. Roberts led the Utes to the Candy Sixteen in 2023 and gained the Pac-12 common season championship. Her groups spent 40 consecutive weeks ranked within the Prime 25 and 14 straight weeks within the Prime 10, rating as excessive as No. 2 within the nation. Common house attendance in Roberts’ tenure skyrocketed from 594 to 7,209. At Utah, Roberts coached 2024 No. 8 total draft decide Alissa Pili and 2019 third-round choice Megan Huff.
“I’m honored to be named the following head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks,” Roberts mentioned. “I wish to thank our possession group for this unimaginable alternative. From conversations with Eric Holoman and Reagan Pebley, it’s evident that we share a like-minded dedication towards making a successful tradition and group. The Sparks have a gifted roster with super upside, and we’ll compete tirelessly for WNBA championships. I consider Los Angeles needs to be the premier market within the WNBA, and I’m desirous to associate with our gamers and entrance workplace to make this occur.”
The previous three seasons, Roberts’ groups have displayed historic effectivity, rating No. 1 within the nation in discipline purpose makes an attempt from past the three-point line and on the rim, second in total offensive ranking, and third in efficient discipline purpose share. Collectively, these squads rank fifth amongst all DI colleges in three-pointers made throughout the final three campaigns. In 2023-24, Roberts’ Utes shot 95% of their photographs from past the arc, on the rim or within the paint. Her group tried simply 5% of their alternatives from the much less environment friendly mid-range space, far more environment friendly than the 17% frequency that WNBA groups common.
As a standout guard at Enterprise Excessive Faculty in Redding, Roberts earned 1993 Northern Part Participant of the 12 months honors. She then performed at Seattle Pacific College, setting a faculty file with 82 made three-pointers in a season. Roberts started her teaching profession as a scholar assistant at Seattle Pacific whereas incomes her grasp’s diploma, serving as Falcons assistant coach from 1997-2002. She then took the reins as Division II Chico State’s head coach, tallying an 86-31 file. The Wildcats made the DII NCAA Match all 4 seasons Roberts coached them, advancing to the Last 4 in 2006.
From 2006-2015, Roberts helmed the Pacific Tigers, incomes 2013 Massive West Coach of the 12 months honors, claiming the 2012-13 common season championship and qualifying for the WNIT every of her closing 4 seasons.
Roberts has been mentored by the winningest head coach in faculty basketball historical past—and Cameron Brink’s former coach– Tara VanDerveer, who mentioned in 2024 that Roberts’ groups “play what I name lovely basketball.” Getting into 2024-25, which she started as Utah’s head coach, Roberts’ collegiate head teaching file stood at 383-290.
Roberts will probably be formally launched to media throughout a press convention (concurrently in-person and digital) on Thursday, November 21 at 1 p.m. PT at Crypto.com Area, alongside Basic Supervisor Raegan Pebley. A media advisory containing pertinent particulars will probably be distributed shortly.
