Just 12 games into their 2022 WNBA season, the Los Angeles Sparks have fired head coach Derek Fisher during his fourth season with the team.
Fisher, a former five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, failed to bring his success as a player to the WNBA sideline. His tenure with the Sparks lasted 105 games (100 during the regular season and five in the postseason). The Sparks won only 55 of those games.
But barely scratching .500 wasn’t the sole reason for Fisher’s exit from the Sparks. Key departures during past free agency periods, like franchise legends and champions Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray, likely had his seat growing increasingly warmer with each passing season. The team’s disappointing 5-7 start to this season was just the cherry on top.
Assistant coach Fred Williams will take over as the team’s interim head coach.
Breaking: Derek Fisher has been fired as head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks, a source confirms to @alexaphilippou.
Fred Williams will take over as interim head coach. pic.twitter.com/r85F8OtiRW
— ESPN (@espn) June 7, 2022
Los Angeles has +3000 odds at Tipico Sportsbook to win this year’s WNBA title.
