The Los Angeles Sparks parted with head coach and general manager Derek Fisher on Tuesday afternoon after a 5-7 start to the 2022 WNBA season, the team announced.
“After a thorough evaluation of the state of our team, the Sparks and GM/Head Coach Derek Fisher have agreed to part ways,” the team’s managing partner Eric Holoman said in a statement. “On behalf of our ownership group, I want to thank Derek for his efforts and contributions to the Sparks franchise. We wish him the best moving forward. I have full confidence in Fred Williams to step into the role of interim head coach, bringing a wealth of experience leading WNBA teams.”
Fisher, 47, played 18 seasons in the NBA, spending the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and winning five championships with the team. He retired after the 2013-14 season and was hired in June 2014 as the head coach of the New York Knicks. After leading the team to a 40-96 record, Fisher was fired during his second season with the Knicks.
The Sparks hired Fisher as head coach in December 2018 and appointed him to the role of general manager in December 2020 after the team earned the three seed in the WNBA Playoffs in both of his first two seasons. In February 2021, the Sparks lost stars Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray in free agency and finished the next season with a 12-20 record.
In the 2022 offseason, the Sparks added four-time All-Star Liz Cambage in free agency and started the year 2-0 before losing five straight. Los Angeles is currently eighth in the WNBA standings.
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