The Latest Breaking News from Sparks

The Sparks say goodbye to Fisher during his fourth season with the team.

LOS ANGELES — Derek Fisher and the Sparks have mutually agreed to part ways after a disappointing 5-7 start to the season, the team announced Tuesday, relieving him of head coach and general manager duties. Fisher’s less than four-year tenure ends with 54-46 overall record and a 1-4 postseason mark.

From productive rookies to potential growing pains, how did each team look in its first game of the year?

A bad stroke of luck for the defending champs.

This season is about more than the Sky becoming the first WNBA team in 20 years to repeat as champions; it’s about solidifying their foothold in Chicago’s saturated sports market.

Is this the year that the Sun finally get over the hump?

Who will overachieve? Who will underachieve? And who is coming out on top in the Finals? Answering that in more in a preseason roundtable.

In her 13 seasons with the Sparks, Candace Parker averaged 16.9 points on 48.2% shooting, 8.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. She led them to a championship in 2016, won two league MVP awards, was named rookie of the year in 2008 and defensive player of the year in 2020.

LOS ANGELES — In need of a boost after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011, the Sparks added a key sharp-shooting wing. Derek Fisher, the team's coach and general manager, moved pieces to get a speedy championship-winning point guard. They added an international star center.