Sparks GM Dismissed
Los Angeles Sparks Dismiss General Manager Raegan Pebley After Two Seasons, Name Interim Replacements
Key Points
Pebley posted a 39-66 record as Sparks GM over two seasons, reflecting the on-field performance under her leadership.
The Sparks have three WNBA championships in their history, having won titles in 2001, 2002 and 2016.
Curt Miller was fired in September 2024 and Lynne Roberts took over, going 21-23 in her first season as head coach.
Pebley’s playing career included time in the WNBA: she was a 1997 draft pick by the Utah Starzz and appeared in 30 career games across Utah and the Cleveland Rockers (averaging 1.7 points, 1.2 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game).
Before joining the Sparks, Pebley was a longtime coach: head coach at Utah State, Fresno State and a nine-year stint at TCU (four WNIT appearances in her first five years; left TCU after an 8-23 season in 2022-23) and later served as a Dallas Wings TV analyst from 2016-2023.
The Los Angeles Sparks fired general manager Raegan Pebley on Monday, ending her two-season run atop the franchise's front office. Yahoo Sports reported that assistant GMs Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen will split interim GM duties while the team searches for a permanent replacement.
The Sparks sit at 10-11, ninth in the WNBA standings and just outside the final playoff berth. The franchise has not reached the playoffs since 2020, and Pebley's two seasons produced a combined 39-66 record.
A 39-66 Record and a Playoff Drought Drive the Decision
Pebley was hired in January 2024 with no prior front-office experience. She came from college coaching and a stint as a TV analyst for the Dallas Wings. The Sparks went just 8-32 in her first year. The team never found its footing, and the playoff drought stretched to five straight seasons.
The Sporting Tribune noted the two sides mutually agreed to part ways. Sparks governor Eric Holoman thanked Pebley for her work on "roster development and player experience," calling it a lasting contribution. But the on-court results left little room for argument.
Coaching Turnover Added to the Front-Office Instability
Pebley's tenure also included a major coaching change. Head coach Curt Miller was fired in September 2024. Lynne Roberts took over and went 21-23 in her first season — a modest improvement, but not enough to end the playoff drought.
The back-to-back front-office and coaching shakeups made it hard to build a consistent identity. With the team now half a game outside the playoff picture, the pressure on Roberts and the interim GMs is immediate.
Pebley's Path: College Courts to the GM Chair
Pebley, 50, played in the WNBA after being drafted by the Utah Starzz in 1997. She appeared in 30 career games, averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.0 minutes per game. She later spent nine years as head coach at TCU, where she made four WNIT appearances in her first five years.
Her TCU tenure ended after an 8-23 season in 2022-23. She then worked as a Dallas Wings TV analyst from 2016 to 2023 before the Sparks tapped her for the GM role. Critics pointed to her lack of front-office experience as a key weakness from the start.
Knowlton and Nielsen Now Hold the Playoff Keys
Yahoo Sports reported that Knowlton and Nielsen will share interim GM duties immediately. The Sparks are 10-11 and sit ninth in the WNBA standings. The top eight teams make the playoffs, meaning Los Angeles is just half a game out of a berth.
The two interim GMs must now stabilize the roster and keep the team in playoff contention — all while the organization conducts a full GM search. The Sparks have three WNBA titles, in 2001, 2002, and 2016, and are looking to recapture that relevance.
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