Sparks, Curt Miller part ways amid rebuild, draft lottery featuring Paige Bueckers

Veteran head coach Curt Miller and the Los Angeles Sparks “mutually agreed to part ways,” the team announced Tuesday.

Though the Sparks finished their season with the worst winning percentage in franchise history, the move was unexpected since Miller and the team have made clear the franchise is in rebuilding mode.

The Sparks have the best odds at landing the No. 1 pick and the right to select Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The Sparks said they will begin a new search for a head coach immediately. It is the first coach opening of the offseason with the exception of Golden State, the expansion team beginning play next season.

“I want to thank the entire Sparks organization for the opportunity to lead and help rebuild the franchise,” Miller said in the release. “I am proud of the culture created in our locker room and strongly believe the roots have been established for a bright future. The team is now positioned for success, and I wish the players the best heading into the 2025 season.”

A full rebuild began this spring when the franchise drafted center Cameron Brink (No. 2 overall) and Rickea Jackson (No. 4), an all-rookie contender. Brink became the foundation after Nneka Ogwumike left in free agency for Seattle. She was the last of the star 2016 championship team’s big three to leave town, joining Candace Parker (Sky, Aces) and Chelsea Gray (Aces). The Sparks are in a franchise-record four-year playoff skid dating back to Parker and Gray’s final Sparks season in 2020.

Brink tore her ACL in June, forcing her to miss the rest of the season after playing in 15 games. Injuries continued to hurt the Sparks and nine players started at least 10 games. They finished last in the WNBA standings at 8-32, but with bright spots in Jackson’s rookie development and an all-WNBA-level season from veteran forward Dearica Hamby.

The franchise is in a premiere market, but falling behind in the WNBA’s franchise facility arms race. Free agents are opting for teams that offer 24/7 team-specific facilities to train and practice. The Aces, Storm and Mercury have all opened their own in recent seasons. The Liberty and Fever use facilities within their arenas shared by NBA teams.

Miller finished his two seasons in Los Angeles with a 25-55 record. It is the second time he’s been involved in a surprising offseason parting-of-ways. Miller left the Connecticut Sun after losing in the 2022 WNBA Finals to the Aces and took the Sparks job. He is 165-141 all-time as head coach and his Sun teams were the winningest in the league during his tenure, though they didn’t win a championship. His wins rank 11th in WNBA history.

Golden State should be hiring a coach soon with an expansion draft expected in December. Fever general manager Lin Dunn told reporters on Tuesday she had not been informed yet on how an expansion draft would work this winter. In addition, the Toronto and Portland expansion teams will be looking for head coaches, but those franchises are not beginning play until 2026.

Free agency will also be complicated since players are, for the most part, not signing past 2026 since salaries are expected to rise under a new collective bargaining agreement.