On Face of It, a Good Start to Woolridge Era
Stacey Terrien, the Sparks’ publicist, saw to it that the team’s locker-room door was properly decorated Friday afternoon for the arrival of the Sparks’ new head coach.
She had found a 1984-85 Chicago Bulls’ media guide, and on the cover were a rookie named Michael Jordan and a 6-foot-9 Notre Dame player named Orlando Woolridge, who Friday was named the Sparks’ head coach.
Woolridge, whose predecessor, Julie Rousseau, was fired Thursday night after leading the Sparks to a 7-13 record, met with his team Friday morning, had a root canal procedure in the afternoon, then went to the Forum . . . and broke up on seeing his and Jordan’s old photo.
The press book headline over the Jordan/Woolridge photo reads: “Who ya gonna call?--NETBUSTERS!”
One of the “Netbusters” made his head coaching debut Friday, and his players busted the nets a few times themselves, responding with a 71-56 rout of the Phoenix Mercury before 9,563 at the Great Western Forum.
Guard Tamecka Dixon scored eight of her 13 points in the final 4 1/2 minutes and the Sparks scored the game’s final 10 points to stave off the Mercury (12-9).
Mwadi Mabika and Lisa Leslie each scored 15 points for the Sparks, and Jennifer Gillom had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix, which lost its fifth straight.
Woolridge, 38, played for 14 NBA coaches in 13 seasons and says the three best were Pat Riley, Chuck Daly and Jerry Sloan.
To say he brings enthusiasm to his job is like saying it’s cold on Neptune.
“When I was asked to help out in training camp before the Sparks’ first season, I knew then for sure that I wanted to coach,” he said.
He becomes the Sparks’ third head coach in less than two seasons, but maybe that’s not all bad, he said before Friday’s game.
“This team has been through this [a coaching change] before, so it’s not like they’re overwhelmed by it,” he said.
“We’re not going to have any major changes, but I want to channel the team’s energy better, kind of tweak the system they already have.
“Basically, I’m going to tell them to go out and play hard and have fun. I don’t doubt they can redeem this season.”
Woolridge’s players seemed to handle the switch matter-of-factly.
“We’re not happy Julie’s gone, but hopefully we can feed off O’s [Woolridge’s nickname] energy,” Leslie said.
“My opinion is this [the team’s losing record] is about players, not coaches.”
Said Dixon of the coaching change: “Yes, I was shocked. I just liked Julie, but O is the coach now. Was it needed? Well, we’ll see, won’t we?”
Guard Penny Toler said: “O’s style is he wants us to go out there and play hard and have fun. If you make a mistake, forget it and keep playing hard and good things will happen.”
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Spark scout Steve Smith was promoted to assistant coach Thursday. The second assistant, Colleen Matsuhara, remains. . . . Center Haixia Zheng, out since July 1 after undergoing knee surgery, could return to the lineup soon. She is running and reports no pain.
FRIDAY’S OTHER GAME
Detroit 78, Sacramento 77--Cindy Brown converted an offensive rebound of a missed free throw with two seconds remaining to lead the Shock to victory before 10,248 at Auburn Hills, Mich.
The Shock’s Sandy Brondello hit the first of two free throws with 6.1 seconds left, but missed the second. Brown grabbed the rebound and hit a short jumper to give the Shock its first lead since early in the second half.
Tangela Smith led the Monarchs with a career-high 26 points.
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Sparks Tonight
at Utah. Time: 6 PDT.
Site--Delta Center, Salt Lake City.
Radio--KLAC (570).
Records--Sparks 8-13, Starzz 7-14.
Update--Two struggling WNBA clubs with new head coaches meet tonight. The Sparks, coached by Orlando Woolridge, have won two in a row for the first time this season. Margo Dydek, the Starzz’s 7-foot-2 Polish center, is the league’s fifth-ranked rebounder and has twice as many blocks as anyone. But the Starzz, coached by Frank Layden, lack scoring punch. Their leader, Elena Baranova, is 14th in scoring, at 12.9 a game.