What’s new with the Sparks?
Five things to look for as the Sparks open training camp today:
1. New owners: Kathy Goodman and Carla Christofferson, season-ticket holders who lead an investment group that bought the Sparks from Lakers owner Jerry Buss in December, are nothing if not enthusiastic, living out every fan’s fantasy.
“Everyone in the league is thrilled with what Carla and Kathy have brought to L.A.,” WNBA President Donna Orender said last week. “Their focus as well as their strategic objectives for really putting their arms around the community in a way that’s meaningful is certainly what the league stands for.
“Second, they want to win ... and they’re very concerned about their fans and how they’re treated and giving them the best possible experience. The expectation is that this organization will be a leadership organization.”
The Sparks are one of five independently owned WNBA teams.
2. New coach: Former Laker Michael Cooper, who guided the Sparks to WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002, is back for a second go-round with the team after Joe “Jellybean” Bryant was fired two weeks ago despite a 25-9 record last season.
“This is the door that was open to me,” said Cooper, a former Denver Nuggets interim coach who wrapped up a 24-27 season with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA development league on Wednesday and hopes to return to the NBA one day. “My goal is to continue head coaching. It doesn’t matter at what level.”
3. New center: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, acquired in a February trade with the Connecticut Sun, steps in for three-time league most valuable player Lisa Leslie, who announced in December that she was pregnant and would sit out the season.
“I don’t think we’ll miss a beat,” Cooper said. “Definitely, she’s a different type of center than Smooth, but still she possesses that quality that it takes to win at this level, and she can hold her own in the middle.”
McWilliams-Franklin, 36, is a 6-foot-2, four-time WNBA All-Star who averaged 12.8 points and career highs of 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season.
Leslie averaged 20, 9.5 and 3.2.
4. New focal point? After averaging career lows of 15 points, 6.1 rebounds and 29.6 minutes last season, six-time All-Star and former WNBA scoring champion Chamique Holdsclaw will be asked to increase her productivity in Leslie’s absence.
“We’ll look to get the ball to her,” Cooper said, “but no more than the rest of the players. Everybody’s game is going to have to step up a notch or two.”
5. New role: Leslie, due in July, will still be around, providing leadership. “She has expressed to both Carla and me her willingness to do anything she can to help the team -- in marketing, promotions, etc.,” Goodman said.
Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, Leslie can be paid half of her salary while on disability. Designated a “core” player by the Sparks, she’s still on the roster but has not said whether she plans to return next season.