LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks recently signed guard Nia Coffey as new GM and head coach Derek Fisher continues his desire to create depth for this squad in the upcoming 2021 season.
However, she isn’t the only member of the Coffey family playing pro basketball in LA. Nia is the sister of guard Amir Coffey, currently playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. They are the first brother-sister combination to play pro basketball in the same city.
“(Amir) started playing in the second grade and I started playing in the fourth grade. Never did I think we would have the opportunity to play in the same city,” Coffey said of her brother.
“Seeing how he has evolved as a player and same with myself, and seeing how our journeys have been different, but we landed in the same city,” Coffey continued. “It’s just amazing (and I’m) looking forward to it. We haven’t been together since college, so looking forward to being able to re-connect.”
Coffey also has experience playing alongside great players. Last season she played with a talented group with the Phoenix Mercury that included Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Skyler Diggins-Smith.
Now she joins another talented veteran core that includes Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike, Kristi Toliver, Brittney Sykes, and Seimone Augustus.
“Seeing our vets on this team with Nneka, Seimone, Chiney, and Toliver just looking forward to having that same experience,” Coffey said. “I see what they bring to the game and want to learn from their experience and try to let what they’ve been through rub off on me, because it can only get better.”
Coffey is a versatile defender and a career 35 percent three-point shooter in her four-year WNBA.
However, it has been difficult for her to stick anywhere for more than one season. The Sparks are going to be Coffey’s fifth WNBA team since she came into the league in 2017, and there are no guarantees she makes the roster with the amount of depth Fisher has at the guard/wing position.
