The Los Angeles Sparks can add a listing for a new general manager to LinkedIn.
On Sunday, the team confirmed it’s parting ways with third-year GM Raegan Pebley. Assistant GMs Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen will serve as interims.
Sparks release statement on firing of Raegan Pebley
“We are grateful to Raegan and her leadership and commitment to the Los Angeles Sparks and women’s basketball,” managing partner and governor Eric Holoman said. “Her work on the Sparks roster and player experience will have a lasting impact on our organization. We sincerely thank her for all she has invested in the Sparks and wish her success in her next chapter.”
Hiring Pebley was a questionable decision for the Sparks. The former Colorado Buffaloes star played in the WNBA from 1997-98 in stints with the Utah Starzz (now Las Vegas Aces) and Cleveland Rockers. She subsequently served as head coach for the Utah State Aggies,
Fresno State Bulldogs and TCU Horned Frogs from 2003-23. But she lacked one key qualification: front-office experience.
That showed at times during her tenure, particularly with her scouting. Of the six players the Sparks selected in the 2024 and 2025 WNBA Drafts, only one (forward Cameron Brink) remains on the roster. Brink, of course, has battled ACL and ankle issues, which have prevented her from reaching her ceiling.
Now, Pebley did bring in some needed star power, acquiring guard Kelsey Plum in a three-team trade with the Aces and Seattle Storm before the 2025 season. In two seasons with the Sparks, Plum has averaged 20.5 points per game and has been selected to the All-Star Game twice.
Ultimately, Pebley didn’t find enough players like Plum. The team went 39-66 under the GM. L.A. entered Sunday with a 10-11 record and ninth in the WNBA standings, putting it in a position to miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.
The firing of Pebley ends another disappointing chapter for the Sparks, who have struggled to recapture the glory days of the 2000s, when they won two of their three championships and featured stars like forward Candace Parker and center Lisa Leslie. They hope their next GM can help them replicate the success from that happier time.
Perhaps L.A. should start by targeting a candidate with an extensive front-office background. Pebley didn’t have that, which contributed to her inability to build a perennial championship contender.