LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Sparks have decided on their next selection for General Manager, Ariana Andonian. She was the Philadelphia Sixers’ vice president of player personnel, hired in September 2024; she previously served as vice president of player personnel for the Memphis Grizzlies and had a stint with the Houston Rockets.
“Coming home to Southern California to serve as general manager of the Sparks is an opportunity of a lifetime,” Andonian said.
After terminating the services of former Sparks General Manager Reagan Pebley in July, the Sparks began their search for the next general manager. The team has underachieved since 2019, when they last made the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Connecticut Sun. Los Angeles has missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons and has not made a WNBA Finals appearance since 2017. The team has gone through a series of general managers and head coaches who have been unsuccessful in turning the franchise in a winning direction. Andonian could be the x-factor in the movement toward a new era with the Sparks. The positive aspect is the 2027 opening of a $150 million state-of-the-art practice facility, which is now common practice across the WNBA with its teams and players.
Another aspect is that a couple of members of the ownership group could be under serious investigation, according to reports by award-winning investigative journalist Pablo Torre, who continues to uncover information about Dodgers and Sparks owners Mark Walter, Magic Johnson, and Eric Holoman. The bigger question for Andonian is: why would she migrate to Los Angeles with all the ownership disruptions currently underway instead of staying with a franchise that has loaded talent to compete for an NBA championship in Philadelphia right now?
“This is a franchise with a championship legacy, one that is part of the fabric of women’s professional basketball,” Adoniansaid. “It was clear to me throughout this process that the Sparks ownership group is committed to delivering for our fans. My goal as GM is to build a culture of excellence centered around great people, strong processes, and doing everything within our power to best support our players on and off the court.”
To be clear, were there possibly more qualified candidates for this position who were more familiar with women’s basketball, scouting routines, and executive duties within the WNBA and/or NBA?
According to several league sources, Swin Cash, Pokey Chattman, and Eli Horowitz received no calls or offers for consideration for the position, which is quite puzzling considering the team looks to move in an upward direction. The three names mentioned could’ve been better fits; however, the question remains for Andonian, who is astronomically knowledgeable of the game: will she have full autonomy to make personnel decisions regarding the future head coach and player decisions this coming offseason? From the moment Peably became general manager with influence from ownership, the Sparks aggressively traded their number two pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft for two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum. Plum was acquired not just for her skill set but for what the team presumed to be her popularity in a market dominated by the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the 17-time World Champion Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Rams and, at the time, USC Football. What appeared to be a match made in paradise, according to reports, turned into a divorce after a season and a half: Plum wanted to distance herself from the franchise and was eventually traded to the Phoenix Mercury. Had the Sparks held on to their number two pick, they could’ve drafted dynamic young talents in Dominique Malonga or Kiki Iriafen, according to sources.
Rae Burrell was drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, propelling the organization’s resurgence. In 2024, the Sparks continued their youth movement led by Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, who were drafted number two and number four in that draft class. Angel Reese was not on the team’s radar that year, and ultimately she ended up in Chicago with the Sky. This now appears to be a clear miss by the franchise, as Reese has emerged as a star. Her game has been a significant contributor with the Atlanta Dream after being traded this past offseason from Chicago. Before Pebly’s termination, Jackson was traded for an aging guard, Airel Atkinks, and nothing more. A complete head-scratcher for many fans and media members, who wondered what truly went into that decision regarding Jackson. The Sparks received no future first- or second-round picks for Jackson from Chicago.
Imagine that, with that young core that included Burrell, Brink, Jackson, and Malonga, the Sparks could have had similar success to what the Washington Mystics are currently having? Like truly knowing how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll, the world will never know.
Will they keep their current head coach, Lynne Roberts, or make the right move by finding a more experienced head coach who can lead this team back to prominence and toward the WNBA Finals? What remains unclear at this point is the vision for this franchise under Andonian and how she will work with current Sparks president Stacy Johns. Will the ownership focus on adding value to revitalize this team, or will they have to sell the team due to off-court issues? Too many questions and not enough answers to provide true clarity on where this franchise is ultimately headed. Investing not only in finances but also in resources and physical appearances will help solidify the organization’s rise from the ashes of mediocrity.
It will be an uphill battle for relevance in the City of Angels; however, winning and getting the right pieces in place on the court and on the sidelines will intrigue fans who want to support and those who may be on the fence. I’d be highly surprised if college phenoms Juju Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo ended up in Los Angeles. Especially with their star power aiding the league’s continued global growth, with teams like the return of the Houston Comets in 2027 (from the Connecticut Sun), Toronto Tempo, Portland Fire, and Seattle Storm in the mix for the upcoming 2027 Draft.
Los Angeles will have to focus on the current state of affairs. It will take a few years to know whether this hire was truly intelligent and successful. Everyone will be watching moving forward as the clock on the Andonian administration begins now.
