← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Lynne Roberts: The Sparks' New Head Coach for the Right Reasons
00:46:34
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- [00:01]
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- [04:39]
Sabrina Merchant
For the Athletic I'm Sabrina Merchant and this is the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Oh, welcome to the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. I'm Sabrina Merchant here with Ben Pickman to cover the fifth WNBA head coaching hire of the off season out in Los Angeles, where the Sparks have brought in Lynn Roberts. In part one of this episode, Ben and I talked to Lynn about her background and what she's getting into in Los Angeles. And then part two is a breakdown of what we learned about her and the Sparks going forward. Lynne Roberts has been a college head coach for more than two decades, first at Chico State, then Pacific before spending the last nine seasons at Utah. She also played at Seattle Pacific University, where she first got her start as a grad assistant and still holds a three point record as a shooter at Seattle Pacific. We're going to talk about that a little bit, but here is that conversation with Lynn Roberts. Very excited to have the new head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks on the show today. Lynn Roberts, thank you so much for making the time for us.
- [05:50]
Lynn Roberts
Thanks for having me on. I'm excited to be talking with you both.
- [05:52]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, so I guess, first things first, you mentioned that this opportunity to join the wnba, something that only would have happened for you because it was the Los Angeles Sparks, like this is the organization that you want to be a part of. Just big picture. Why is it that the Sparks attracted you to this extent?
- [06:07]
Lynn Roberts
Well, I think what I meant by that was the, the opportunity they presented and kind of how they pitched the opportunity. And for me, you know, it was as I have stated many times, I wasn't looking, I wasn't unhappy. Where at the University of Utah. I just signed a long term contract. But, you know, that's the way life is and that's the way sports work. And so they reached out and had, you know, multiple conversations with Reagan Peebley, who I've known for a long time in coaching. So there was kind of an instant trust there. Talked with the managing owner, Eric Holloman and the president, Christine Monger. Like I talked to a lot of people before anything happened. And what intrigued me and kind of why I say the Sparks is because, you know, it's la. I'm from California originally, so I, you know, no disrespect Ben to the east, but I'm a West coast kid. And so that obviously just naturally there. But there's a comfort level there, I guess I should say familiarity. But the picture that they painted in terms of what the WNBA is kind of at this tipping point, right, where I think franchises, ownership groups are realizing that there's a potential return on investment and it's just taking off. And so as a business, I know that the Sparks ownership group, the front office is like, okay, let's do this. And then, you know, it's la. And I believe and I we're going to make it the premier location for free agency. I think it could be and something that we need to strive for. So there was a lot of variables in it, but I think the biggest thing is as a competitor, I want to be somewhere where we can win and understanding that it's hard and it's going to be challenging and there's going to be ups and downs and peaks and valleys, but at the end of the day, it's on us to make it happen. And that's, as a competitor, what I love.
- [08:22]
Ben Pickman
There's a few things there I Think we'll follow up on over the course of this conversation. But the thing I wanted to first ask about, you mentioned being a California kid. So go back in time. You play basketball collegially at Seattle Pacific. I saw what, 1996. All. I guess all Pacific west, second team as a 5, 9 forward, is that correct?
- [08:41]
Lynn Roberts
I'm 5, 10, 5, 11, 10.
- [08:43]
Ben Pickman
Okay, so some of the clippings. Some of the clippings did you a disservice there, but okay, a 5, 10 forward who was a great shooter at Seattle Pacific. And I was reading about a story that, you know, academically, you weren't sure what you wanted to do in life, and you were trying to find yourself, basically. And it was your college coach, actually, who asked you if you wanted to be a part of his staff. I guess just take us through that moment, that conversation, and just like, what do you remember about getting into coaching and being given that opportunity in this moment?
- [09:17]
Lynn Roberts
Yeah. Yes. That is 100% how it happened, I think. I. I loved basketball. I loved being an athlete. You know, I wasn't good enough to get drafted or anything like that, so college was it. But I loved it, lived for it. And as a, you know, as a basketball player or any sport that you're passionate about, the next best thing to playing is coaching. Right. But it really wasn't on my consciousness, you know, oh, I could coach or whatever, but my college coach was Gordy Presnell, who's now at Boise State. Unbelievable legend. And, you know, he. My. I. I changed my major five times in college. So, yeah, finally it was like, okay, you need to graduate. It's like, okay, yeah, that's right. So I ended up going through. This was pre. Like, where everything was online. I looked through the catalog and figured out, like, okay, history. I could do that in one academic year. So I ended up graduating history. I actually really loved it. But anyways, after my junior year, Coach Bresnell, he said, like, hey, you should think about coaching. And I was at this point where it was like, okay, like, what else? You know, that sounds fun. And so. But the moment I got into it, I just loved it. And I. I always joke I have no other skills. Like, this is all I've ever done. I'd probably starve if. If I wasn't able to coach, because, I mean, I worked at a grocery store in college a little bit, but other than that, it's just coaching. So, yeah, kind of serendipitous comment by him. And then he kind of empowered me, and I was his assistant for three years, and he let me do a lot. And I was young and eager and, you know, naive, but all about it.
- [10:57]
Ben Pickman
Just what do you think? Like, other than being overly competitive or competitive, as you talked about it at the open, overly competitive end, like, what do you think he kind of saw in you that led him to, you know, say, hey, maybe you should think about coaching?
- [11:13]
Lynn Roberts
You'd have to ask him, but I would guess, you know, I was the leader of the team. Um, you know, I was a. He always jokes that I would lead through humor and through fear. Um, and there's probably a little bit of that I've taken into my coaching career. But I think because I was a leader and I. I think I understood the game. I understood, you know, I wasn't that point guard position, but I always knew what everyone else was supposed to be doing. And yeah, I think that's probably why. Or he just wanted to throw me a life ring. Like, here, do something with your life.
- [11:47]
Ben Pickman
Seattle Pacific. Then when you're working on the staff, was the Storm. Were you around the storm at all? I know they ended up, you know, having their practice facility there.
- [11:55]
Lynn Roberts
That was after. But the ABL was there. The Seattle Rain. And true story. I'm going to embarrass myself here. My first year as a grad assistant with the Seattle Rain opened up like they had their game, you know, home opener, and they needed a mascot. So I got paid $50 to put on Triumph, this big bird and dance around. And my college basketball assistant, Mike McKee, who's a great dude, he said, lynn, after the thing, I was like, hey, you know, he's like, lynn. That was more painful than watching my wife go through childbirth. So that was my only game I ever did as a mascot. So I, you know, maybe I do have a future other than coaching.
- [12:39]
Sabrina Merchant
How does a bird become the mascot of the Seattle Rain is really my main question.
- [12:45]
Lynn Roberts
I don't know, but his name was Triumph, and I had to run around like an idiot without much training. So, yeah, so that was my connection, Ben, to the pro basketball in Seattle in the. In the early 2000s.
- [12:58]
Sabrina Merchant
So really just a seamless, you know, path from there to professional basketball in the WNBA right now for sure. When you were a W, I mean, a college head coach, like, what was your relationship with the W? How much were you keeping track of the league?
- [13:12]
Lynn Roberts
Yeah, I've always followed it. I've always been a fan. I. I have appreciated that. It's easier to watch. You know, you get the. The. When they went to the app, and you can get any game. That's been great. You know, having it on linear TV has been easier for all of us to watch and follow, which is great. But, yeah, I know a lot of the coaches have a lot of respect for, you know, and the players, obviously, watching them in college, a lot of them, and then going on to the pros. So I've. I've followed it very closely. I'm a basketball junkie. I follow college, men's basketball, the NBA, fiba. Like, it's a. Yeah, I. Probably too much, but.
- [13:51]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah, just in terms, like, you're the second head coach to make this transition from college to the W during this particular cycle. I'm wondering if you think that there's just a general shift in how college coaches or even just people around the game are viewing these opportunities in the wnba.
- [14:08]
Lynn Roberts
Yeah, I don't know. I mean, for me, it was. It was just the right opportunity. You know, I don't know Carl at Atlanta, what his opportunity was, but, you know, I think for me, I had stability and love being at Utah, Just loved it. That was a really hard decision to walk away from, but it didn't feel wrong. It just was hard. Right. But I think the more that, like I said, in terms of the business aspect, the more ownership groups, franchises are realizing that this is a upward trajectory and the W is turning pages that they've never turned before and getting viewership and all the things we're coming up on the big cba, you know, the contracts are going different. Everything's going to look different. I feel like this is a really good time for me. In terms of will other franchises go towards college? I have no idea. I think there's some incredible assistants in the W that would be phenomenal head coaches. Right. And they have that pro experience in the league. There's great head coaches that, you know, have been a couple places. Those. That's a great option, too. I do think adding college coaches just kind of deepens the pool of. Of projected candidates, but, you know, I think that's just going to be determined by what. What each franchise is looking for.
- [15:33]
Ben Pickman
You talk about the evolution of the college game and I guess the pro game. For you personally, since just taking the L A job, what has it been like to watch college basketball? Not just, you know, Utah, which I'm sure you have your own. Like, there's an emotional attachment there still. But just as you, you know, have watched USC or UCLA, other, you know, Pac 12 or former Pac 12 schools, or just like, as you've started to watch it. How are you kind of consuming it? Are you scouting? Is it like, can you flip the switch of like, I recruited this kid and now I'm watching them like, what. What's going on in your brain as you are kind of watching those games right now?
- [16:10]
Lynn Roberts
It's all of the above, Ben. Like, it's, you know, I had the press conference in LA a week ago Thursday, two weeks. What is today?
- [16:18]
Sabrina Merchant
It's about 10 days ago, I would say.
- [16:19]
Lynn Roberts
Okay, so 10 days ago I had the press conference, and then immediately I went into there. There's all those really good games being played. Thanks. Thanksgiving time. So I watched the usc, Notre Dame game in sc, and then I went to the two tournaments in the Bahamas and watched, you know, and so it. It is a little bit different of, like, whoa. It's. It's, you know, it's very much like recruiting where you go and watch and you. You know, but it's just on a totally different level. Right. You're watching these. The best of the best college players. So I'm enjoying it in terms of, like, I get to watch these players and evaluate in a different. In a different way. But it's also kind of fun to just watch and not have to stress about, oh, my gosh, are we gonna get, you know, oh, my gosh, when we play them in three weeks? Or, you know, there's just. There's a level where it's a little bit more fun to watch in this. That regard, but it still feels a little bit surreal that I'm not, you know, gonna be recruiting high school kids. Like, it's just different.
- [17:19]
Ben Pickman
Feels like watching those tournament games in the Bahamas, that's a nice place to ease the, you know, work on the transition from.
- [17:25]
Lynn Roberts
They eased me in. Yeah. Yeah. It was really nice of them to. To send me to a. A decent location for those first couple tournaments. I. I survived. Yes. Thank you. Yeah.
- [17:36]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, I guess other than, you know, mainlining college basketball games, what have these two weeks since the Sparks announced.
- [17:41]
Lynn Roberts
You'Ve been like, it's been a whirlwind. You know, some media stuff, which is awesome. You know, getting to know the players on the roster and connecting with them and starting to create relationships with them. And, you know, I'm not going to be naive or there's a. There's a lot I have to learn how to do right. And I'm learning a lot about how the, you know, how you build a roster and the different ways you can do it and kind of the behind the Scenes, all the business aspect of that and a lot of it, I'm not going to be the decider but I want to learn how it all happens. So a lot of that hiring a staff. So it's been really busy, but it's all good, exciting, busy and fun to learn new stuff.
- [18:30]
Ben Pickman
I guess we should first follow up with the mechanics question of hiring a staff you mentioned at any timeline or what kinds of qualities are you looking for? And you know, I know we've asked some other first time head coaches this cycle about this question. Just how important is having someone with w experience on your staff too? So that's I guess a three part staffer.
- [18:49]
Lynn Roberts
Yes. I think, you know, I've hired a lot of, a lot of coaches over the years and for me the three big pillars that I have always hung my, you know, just really honed in on and it served me well. You know, I want someone that are people that a staff around me that is smart, like they're able to learn things and push the way they think. I want someone that's hard working, you know, we're not curing cancer. We can learn anything. So if you work hard and you're smart, you're going to figure it out. And then the third thing is you have to have integrity. I want to work with good people. And so those are kind of the three pillars of. It doesn't matter what your experience level is, you have to have those three things now. Yes. You know, ideally I will have a staff that has WNBA experience. So that is in the works right now. And that's pretty much all I can say about it. But that's something that, you know, I think a great staff at whatever level, you all complement one another and you know, you fill in each other's gaps and there's self awareness of what those gaps are and there's self awareness about what you're really good at. And so, you know, finding that balance is where I'm at right now.
- [20:03]
Sabrina Merchant
There's so many openings on WNBA staffs right now. I almost wonder if like you guys are going after the same people or just casting like a really wide net or I'd love to know from assistants like how that process is going for them.
- [20:12]
Lynn Roberts
Probably, I don't know, you'd have to ask them. But I'm confident we're going to hire a really great staff.
- [20:17]
Sabrina Merchant
Just moving on from, you know, the bench to the, the roster part of things. Admittedly offseason hasn't really started yet. You don't really know what the Composition of your roster is going to look like come maybe 16th. Is that what Athena schedule is going to start? But just thinking back to this 2024 season, looking at the players who were on the Sparks this past year, what. What potential do you see and like, what you guys can do in 2025?
- [20:40]
Lynn Roberts
Yeah, I mean, in. To your point, Sabrina, like, the roster's not done right, but of who we have. And. And on Friday, you know, the expansion draft happens like, it's such an unprecedented time. And then next year the expansion draft's going to happen with two, and then the CBA is ending. And so everyone's gonna have new. Like, there's gonna be a lot of fluidity amongst rosters for the next, you know, 18 months probably. But that's kind of. That's another reason why I think it's fun to get in now. Like, you can play a role, at least have an opinion as to what kind of you want with your roster in terms of style of play and all of those things. But I like, I really do like the pieces that we have. You know, I think Derick Hamby is an all star. She's. She is so good. If you look at her analytics and stuff, like, there's. There's potential for even her to be better. Like, she's a. She's a definitely a cornerstone piece. Cambrink is going to come back and, And I think she's going to make a great pro. You know, with how we want to play, I think she could be really, really good. Rickia Jackson, I mean, she averaged 12 and a half points a game as a rookie. Oh, and I wanted to say about Derek, is she set the spark single season record for scoring. Like, come on, there's been some great players that have come through that franchise, right? Who, I mean, there's. There's a lot there. You know, Ray Burrell, I think, has a ton of potential, and I don't want to go through the whole roster, but, you know, there's. There. I think there's an enough, like, core young talent and then with the potential to bring in either through the draft, through trades or through for agency enough for us to be really competitive. That's the goal and that's my intention. So, you know, obviously it'll play out, but I'm not wallowing in our roster. I think it's a. I think it's a really solid starting spot.
- [22:37]
Ben Pickman
You know, you mentioned the state kind of the WNBA is in with all the changes that are set to occur over the next couple years. I guess, generally, do you feel like college coaches now are maybe more equipped to jump to the W and deal with some of those changes than they were 5, 10, 15 years ago because of the transfer portal, because of, you know, the movement in college basketball and that becoming such a norm? Like, do you feel like you could have, you know, made this jump 10 years ago and adjusted the way you're expecting to adjust right now in the present?
- [23:08]
Lynn Roberts
Yeah, that's a great question. I don't know if I would have been ready to 10 years ago in a lot of ways. So, you know. But I do think, yes, as college coaches, you are dealing with things that you didn't five years ago. You know, you're dealing with roster management in terms of, you know, how much nil money you have, who gets what. It's almost like that's your salary cap. Right. You've got the transfer portal where you have to try to retain your players, make them not want to leave. Right. It's similar to the free agency or somebody's in the portal and then suddenly you're feverishly trying to convince them to come play for you. Like, those are very parallel universes. Now it's different in the W. I be the first to admit that I think it's on a much more complicated, transparent, all the things. But yeah, I do have experience and just kind of understanding of, you know, as the coach, my job is to deal with the people and so how to handle players, how to treat players, how to, you know, love them, support them, challenge them in the scope of all this kind of turmoil and unpredictability that is pro sports.
- [24:21]
Sabrina Merchant
Just to pick on something you mentioned earlier. You said that Cam Brink you think would fit really well into what you hope is going to be the style of play in la. We're very familiar with what you guys said at Utah the last few years. I think that brand of basketball has become synonymous with you. But just moving over to the sparks, like, what do you envision as that style of play?
- [24:38]
Lynn Roberts
Well, I think that there's, it's nuanced, right, Because I don't know what our complete roster will be and who's going to be here and who's not. As a coach, your job is to not say, this is the way we're going to play, no matter who we have. That's not smart coaching. That's, you know, sometimes you can get square peg, round hole type of thing. But I think fundamentally basketball, whether it's men's, women's, college, pro, it's the Same in terms of you are, it's a simple game. You're trying to score more than the opponent obviously, but you want to. It's. It comes down to shot quality. So for us it's pace, space and shot quality. So pace meaning we want to play fast up tempo. That translates to the W. We want to play with space. To play with space means you have to have five people on the floor that can, can score at all times. So you got to have five people that can shoot. So that's where Cam I think could be really Brink could be really effective. Derek is good at that as Ray is good at that. Like we've got pieces that as big as they can shoot. So if you have play with pace and you have spacing then your shot quality is just going to go up. And so that is the style that I know will translate to the pros. I mean that's what the NBA is doing and some teams in the W are doing it too. But it will be nuanced to our roster. So you know, in the college level you can be a little more hardline on. We are not going to take anything outside 10ft or we're going to take a three. In the Pro level you've got players that are able to consistently hit a 12 foot pull up jumper. Then if you're shooting an effective field goal percentage that's high, it's a great quality shot. Points per shot attempt are high, then heck yeah, take it. So that's where the nuance comes in. But it's going to be dependent on who are, you know, May 16, like what our roster is going to be. But in terms of pace, space and shot quality, that's going to be the same.
- [26:34]
Sabrina Merchant
I know you mentioned in your introductory presser with the sparks like the, the time that you spent with the Utah Jazz and Quinn Snider and how that sort of factored into your philosophy. I'm wondering like are there other influences that you've drawn on in terms of building this efficiency points per shot attempt?
- [26:49]
Lynn Roberts
You know, it wouldn't be a necessarily like a person but just studying the game with, you know, with a couple other basketball junkies just really analytically. You can find anything on the Internet, good or bad. But specifically what I'm talking about is analytics. You can find anything. And so I just, you know, just really dove into the NBA and, and like fiba, men in Europe, that style. You know, if you look at what the NBA is turning into, it's so many foreign players with that style. So it's like, okay, what is that? What does that really mean? And it's players that can, you know, big players that can shoot and pass and all the things. And so just studying that. And like I've said countless times, I'm just a basketball nerd and I love learning about it. And so kind of whatever is kind of the new thing, really diving into understanding the why they're doing it that way.
- [27:45]
Ben Pickman
If you were going to, like, give a PSA or, you know, be that kind of teacher for younger coaches or people looking to get into coaching or just understand basketball more. Like, when you're looking at fiba, men's basketball, or the NBA, what metrics or what kinds of things are you immediately drawn to that you think, you know, someone trying to understand basketball more should also try and learn a little bit more about.
- [28:07]
Lynn Roberts
That's a big question. And I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. I think so much of it is that just the pace of play, misdirection. You know, there's so much action, especially in FIBA and in the NBA where there's misdirection stuff. But it comes down to shot selection. Where are they taking their shots and how are they getting them? And I think if you're watching the game from that lens, you're going to notice that the teams that are winning and play a brand of basketball, that's exciting. They're. They're moving, the ball's moving, players are moving, and they're taking high percentage shots. High percentage meaning points per shot attempt, which could be a layup, it could be a three, it could be a pull up from eight feet. But just notice the shot quality, the shots that they're taking, and it's not happenstance. That's all very, very intentional. And that's the style I want to play.
- [29:02]
Ben Pickman
You know, along those lines. I don't expect you to divulge any secrets on this podcast about this question. But, you know, when Sabrina and I, we talked to Carl when he got hired at Atlanta, and he mentioned having a whole notebook of things that, you know, things he'd wanted to try and maybe would never try, but just, like, had accumulated over the years. Like, do you have something now that you're going to the wnba? A whole notebook, a folder, you know, different sets, different actions that you're excited to bring out, that for whatever reason, you just never ran as a college coach, but you're now like, oh, I could try this at the pro game because of whatever reason, for sure.
- [29:37]
Lynn Roberts
I don't know that I have A binder. But I have, you know, bookmarks and all sorts of things, and it's everywhere. But I think the difference is, you know, coaching in college, if, you know, if we're running pick and roll action on the wing, you have to drill the skill over and over and over and over and over, right? And then as it kind of gets better, the reads get better. Players are making the reads, they're doing it instinctively instead of thinking. Then you can add in the next layer, right, of like, okay, now when they do this, now do this or whatever, but you have to do it over and over and over and over and over. And you have to do that all season long. I think what's exciting, and maybe to Carl's point is, like, you're going to get players that already know how to do a wing ball screen in the, in the different reads. So the, the starting point is higher, the skill level is higher, the athleticism is higher, the size is higher. So as a basketball nerd and dork, like, it is kind of fun to think about. Like, oh, wow, like, we can get to the action. 4, 5, 6, which I always kind of dreamed about. It's in Carl's notebook, like, and that, you know, that is fun, that is exciting to think about.
- [30:46]
Sabrina Merchant
You know, you come to this role with all this wealth of college experience. Like the general manager of the Sparks, Reagan Pabley, has a very similar college coaching background to you. Like, what is it like to have that sort of alignment with her as you guys go about this roster building process and you know what the future of the Sparks looks like?
- [31:01]
Lynn Roberts
Yeah, that was a huge reason as to why I wanted to come to the Sparks was Reagan. I've known her forever. We kind of, our careers kind of had the same pathway. I think we're about the same age or maybe the same age. I should know that, but I will find that out. And I've always respected her and liked her as a human being. I think she's really smart and I know that she has, you know, she's in the same boat. I don't know that she'd be in LA if she didn't trust what the ownership group wants to do. Right. In terms of, let's get to where we are, the premier market and the free agency and we're competing for championships. Like, that's the goal. And I'm sure every W team has that. But, you know, with Regan, she's able, you know, she's got a vision and she is diligent in that building. Kind of a Foundation of what our culture should be like as a franchise. So, yeah, knowing her, when she first called me, there was kind of an immediate trust factor there. But it's been fun the last couple weeks to dive in with her, and she's kept me in the loop. And, you know, it's. It's like a partnership. We both want the same thing, so I'm grateful for her.
- [32:11]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, knowing that Reagan sees the vision of the sparks in the organization, like, what do you see as what ownership is willing to do in Los Angeles in terms of investment and just, I guess, leveling the sparks with what we've seen across the wnba?
- [32:24]
Lynn Roberts
Yeah. And that's a question probably better suited for Reagan. But what I know to be true from my end, you know, the practice facilities happening, that's a big thing. But just the other investments in, you know, whether it's myself or other staff members that, you know, the front office is a lot of new. Christine Mongers, our president, she's smart and capable and driven. You know, she's been in the role about a year and a half. Reagan, a year and a half. There's. There's people that, you know, like, they're making the. They're putting their. What's the saying? You're walking the walk, not just talking the talk like there is. There's evidence that they're moving forward in the way that it takes. And so for me, that's what I needed to not just hear, but see. And it was. It was pretty evident. So I think there's a lot of things that are going to play into what it's going to look like, and I'm still learning those, to be quite honest. But what I've seen and what I know, it's headed in the right direction, for sure.
- [33:31]
Ben Pickman
You know, I think that's why so many people out in L. A are excited about what the future, you know, could be and what it might be. I guess as we start to, you know, close out some of this conversation, I wanted to end a little bit on a lighter note with a few questions that I was curious about. Especially I read somewhere that. That, you know, you've talked about being a basketball nerd, but if you're not watching a lot of basketball, the Food Network and also the Bachelor and the Bachelorette.
- [33:58]
Lynn Roberts
Okay.
- [34:00]
Ben Pickman
Is that true as how you're.
- [34:03]
Lynn Roberts
Okay, yeah. So I will start with the first one. I love cooking. That's my hobby. So I love to cook. I love to invent things, try new things, look at recipes, go shopping, figure it Out. That's like my happy place. I love to cook, probably because I love to eat. But yeah, so I do enjoy cooking. Cooking, magazines, shows, gadgets, all the things in terms of the Bachelor and Bachelorette. Then I, I, I owe you one for this. Yes, I was once obsessed with it, in fact, so much so that we, like, friends of ours, like, we had a friend group, we had like a draft, and there was, it was like a fantasy bachelorette fantasy. Like, if someone said so and so is in it for the wrong reasons, they got a point. Like these type of things. And then the winner got this trophy. Yes, I may have been the mastermind for that. I may have been really into it. I haven't watched in a couple years, so I'm a little dated. But yes, yes, I will tell the truth. I was very into it.
- [35:04]
Ben Pickman
Look, I think we're just giving the sparks creative department just ideas of things that they can make videos of and photograph photo shoots up going forward of like, you know, some kind of creative content related to that or, you know, you and Sparky, if the mascot, you know, needs a day off, like, and yes, you're filling in for an afternoon. Yeah, exactly. We're just, we're just trying to help the transition in other ways than basketball.
- [35:26]
Lynn Roberts
What a friend. What a friend. Thank you.
- [35:29]
Sabrina Merchant
And I guess just like going back to your early basketball days, how does one become a forward at 5, 10? Like, what, what skill set are we relying on here to fill that position?
- [35:40]
Lynn Roberts
Feisty. Not tremendously athletic, but athletic enough. But I, you know, I think I was able to be a forward by maybe being a smart player. Not dirty, but a little bit edgy. You know, the kind of player you hate to play against, but you love having on your team. And then I could really shoot it, and I could do, like, three things. Well, I could rebound, I could shoot, and then I could kind of get in people's head. So that was kind of my skill set. Where else do you put someone besides the four spot when you know they can't really do much else?
- [36:15]
Sabrina Merchant
I mean, it's very funny because the best spot in the WNBA is the four spot.
- [36:19]
Lynn Roberts
I know, I know. That's true. That's true. But back in the day, that's where they put me.
- [36:24]
Ben Pickman
I mean, I think that is. This has been an illuminating conversation on many levels, from your basketball philosophy to, you know, how you got into coaching to some of the hidden talents that even you, I think, were not expecting us to ask about.
- [36:37]
Lynn Roberts
So fun, though. I like it.
- [36:39]
Ben Pickman
I think that is you know, all of why so many people in LA are excited about, you know, what the future holds and what this franchise could be going forward as you guys try and get back to the postseason and, you know, be that preeminent destination as you have talked about. So I guess we will let you get back to all the basketball you want to watch or. Or studying up on mascot tape again to bring that back up. I know, you know, there's a lot of competition for Ellie and I know.
- [37:07]
Lynn Roberts
I'm gonna regret telling that story, but I also don't take myself very seriously. So it is what it is. I am who I am, guys.
- [37:14]
Ben Pickman
You can't run from it. And I think that is why the Sparks are excited to have you for that authenticity. So, Lynn Roberts, congratulations on getting the opportunity and thank you for joining us on the Athletic women's basketball.
- [37:25]
Lynn Roberts
Thanks for having me.
- [37:26]
Ben Pickman
So, Sabrina, I think there is a lot that we learned about Lynn Roberts and the Sparks over the course of that conversation. But as you know, you are someone who has covered the Sparks for years now and are based in Los Angeles. I guess what stuck out to you about her and the conversation we just had.
- [37:43]
Sabrina Merchant
Well, I'm thrilled anytime someone says that LA can be a premier free agent destination, because that is not something that I've experienced with the Sparks over the last few years. I believe they signed Christie Toliver in 2020 to a max contract, which is a big deal back then after she had just come off of winning a title with the Mystics in 2019. But that was pretty much the last time that they've sort of won a free agency sweepstakes. You could quibble with like the Azaria Stevens of it all, because I know a lot of teams went after her in 2023, but that's been a mixed bag for the Sparks. But yeah, that's the idea of the Sparks being a premier market and attracting the best talent in the WNBA just hasn't been the case. So over the last four seasons, basically since the middle and the end of the Derek Fisher era, and if she believes that can still happen, that is music to my ears.
- [38:29]
Ben Pickman
And along those lines, I mean, it seems like she was talking about why she made this switch and the investment from ownership from, you know, the relationship and alignment with Reagan plebly, like stability has not exactly been a word you would associate with the Los Angeles Sparks over the last four or five years. Right. Lynn Roberts is the fourth head coach in the last five seasons. I want to say fourth head coach.
- [38:52]
Sabrina Merchant
In the last four seasons actually if you just start in 2022. Yeah, right.
- [38:57]
Ben Pickman
If you start there. Okay. Right. So, you know, I think the thing that is seems clear is that with investment will also come some stability. Right. And obviously success needs to follow. But, you know, that seems to be. There seems to be some alignment there. If we're talking about alignment, about the Sparks both wanting to become a destination and also wanting to be a much more stable franchise that players and coaches, someone like Lynn Roberts jumps from the college game to the pro game can look to as they, you know, again, want to become this preeminent franchise in the WNBA once again.
- [39:32]
Sabrina Merchant
Right. And you think about them being a premier destination for talent. That's the first example of that is Lynn coming over. Because it's not like she was in a bad situation at Utah.
- [39:41]
Lynn Roberts
Right.
- [39:41]
Sabrina Merchant
She had just signed the extension that she talked about. She had pretty much job security going forward with the Utes. They've been a good program in the Pac12 now in the Big 12. So it's not as if she was, you know, bouncing around looking for a new home, like she was a settled head coach at a good university and decided to move on to a different opportunity because of what the Sparks presented.
- [40:01]
Ben Pickman
Just play Sparks GM for a second if you were the Sparks gm. And we, I know, and we've talked about this a little bit in our kind of season wrap up episode, but you know, she threw out a number of names, a number of players who they view as building blocks. And I know one of the ones that caught our eyes is Ray Burrell, you know, a young player out of Tennessee who, you know, I think clearly they want to invest some in. But what would you do? What would you change? How would you have approached the expansion draft and that process? And as you look to free agency, what kinds of players do you think they should be targeting and would you want to target for them to bring in?
- [40:39]
Sabrina Merchant
So it's very useful. She mentioned five players in our conversation. You get to protect six. Right? So that's Cam Brink, Rekia Jackson, Tierca Hamby, Ray Burrell and Azari Stevens were all players that she touched on at one point or another. I would think that the last player you want to protect as a Sparks is Julie Allemand, the point guard who never got to come over in 2024 because she was injured during international play and then just couldn't make it back because of Olympic commitments and whatnot. And you look at like, talent wise, what the Sparks are missing. A point guard is really the obvious piece that kind of finishes the puzzle of everything else they've. They have going on. If they can't bring Almond over this year, if they can't get a point guard in the draft, I really think that's just the number one place you have to start in the offseason. Somebody has to make things easier in the half court for all of their young players, for all of their post players. It was just so hard for the Sparks to score in 2024. So getting an offensive table setter and organizer, like that's the number one thing that, you know, it's very challenging. Like, I think point guard is not a super deep position in the wnba. The ones that are good are pretty much like all star level. You don't expect them to move from their current teams. So that, I think is where you have to start if you're riding people because you do have a good chunk of talent at other positions. It's just, it's impossible to optimize them without a point guard running the show.
- [41:56]
Ben Pickman
And I like that you use the word optimized there because that seems to be like point number one or goal number one for what this Lynn Roberts offense is going to do. It is to optimize and be as efficient as possible with whoever is out there on the floor.
- [42:10]
Sabrina Merchant
Absolutely. I mean, points for possession. Shot quality, I think, is a word we heard quite a bit, which is a fun one for me because you hear like field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, you know, points per shot attempt. Shot quality was a good one for me. And I like that she sort of elaborated on the differences between shot quality at the college level and the WNBA level because college players just aren't as skilled as WNBA players. So their ability to make shots from different parts of the floor is just different than what you're going to see from pro players. And being a little flexible and how her shot map looks relative to what it looked like at Utah. I think it's going to be interesting in terms of that transition from college to the program. But yeah, efficiency, efficiency, efficiency. That's going to be a buzzword, I think, in Los Angeles over the next few seasons.
- [42:50]
Ben Pickman
You know, it's funny, like we mentioned and we wrote about Carlos Mesco's hire when the Atlanta Dream brought him in. I think we heard a very similar refrain. Right. These are two, you know, offensive first coaches who are known for their philosophies and having, you know, real clear, like threes and layups and talking about efficiency. But I think in both conversations we had there Was this, you know, both coaches stress the importance of the nuance and being flexible and recognizing that, you know, these are the best players in the world and that is exciting for them. And with that they can make a 12 foot jumper, I think, is what Lynn Roberts said, like consistently in a way that like you might not out of every single player in college. And so that I think will be really interesting to watch when the season begins. Just who are the players who are kind of given that green light, who are the players who like, feel comfortable, she feels comfortable with taking those. And what does the shot map and the shot diet look like and how does it compare to what it did in college? Because, you know, I don't think these coaches want to lose the essence of like their philosophies and I don't think they will. But picking up on some of those changes is one thing I'm definitely going to watch for, you know, when play resumes. I guess now we know May 16, right?
- [44:04]
Sabrina Merchant
And it seems like so many coaches, not just Lynn and Karl, who have been hired in this cycle, have talked about that change in offensive style and just the way shots are generated in the wnba. Like we heard at first with Becky Hammond in Las Vegas, obviously her two assistants, Natalie Nikase and Tyler Marsh, are big proponents of that spacing and pace and everything that the Aces have introduced to the WNBA. Nate Tibbets, you know, had the 43 pointer per game goal in Phoenix this season, which came shockingly short. But every coach, I think, has had similar buzzwords in their opening, you know, remarks and have emphasized like a new style of play, a new way of, you know, thinking about offense in the wnba. So what was kind of like isolated to a couple of teams over the past few seasons. I think we're just going to see spread across more and more of the league going forward.
- [44:54]
Ben Pickman
And it will then be interesting to think about where these coaches and where different teams like pull from for competitive advantages. Like, it was, I think something that I followed up on during the course of our conversation. You know, Lynn Roberts talked about watching like FIBA men, right? Or like, you know, international men's basketball is like one place to study and think about innovation, right? We know the international game so often is like, is another vessel that a lot of coaches think about, lean on or some really smart coaches, I should say, think about and lean on. And it will be interesting and worth watching. As the WNBA continues to progress, what ideas are kind of stolen from coach to coach and where are some of those? I don't know if it's different leagues, different metrics. What are the ways to create advantages and how do teams try and bake in as many advantages as possible when also thinking about the rosters that they have.
- [45:51]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah. And who they decide to help them make those decisions. Right. Like, we've covered all these coaching hires. So many assistant coaching spots left to be had. And I think that's where coaches can get really creative. Right. Like, I. I don't know about you, but every time I see an assistant coaching list come out, like, they're names that I've just never thought of or never heard of. And I'm just really interested to see, like, what sort of ideas they can contribute to this. I mean, like, could Lynn Roberts pull somebody who has FEMA men's international experience? Like, why not? You know, I think just the ability to, I don't know, expand the number of voices in the room in the WNBA to just diversify the types of, like, backgrounds and stuff. I think it's just me really interesting to see how the league changes in its makeup this year.
- [46:31]
Ben Pickman
Yeah. Just as we close out this second part of the conversation, can you fill people in? You wrote about this news a little bit ago. She mentioned the practice facility that is kind of in the works. Can you just provide an update for listeners about where the Sparks are in that process and how their current situation compares to current teams around the wnba?
- [46:48]
Sabrina Merchant
Yeah. So this is something that Reagan Peebley, the GM of the Spark, says has been in the works for some time, that they've been partnering with this company, transwestern, which recently worked on building facilities with the Phoenix Mercury and Overtime Elite, to first, like, source an area to find the practice facility and then work on the actual building of the facility itself. But right now, we are just in the original phases of finding the land itself, which for those of you unfamiliar with Los Angeles real estate, could be a process to begin with, but that is where the Sparks are. When Lynne Roberts talked about it, she said there will be a practice facility. So clearly this is something that's not just exploratory. It's something that they expect to happen. What the timeline is, I'm not sure. But for now, the Sparks practice at a community college which is close to their team provided housing, not super close to the arena that they play at. They do have time constraints associated with that facility because it is a community college. And there are other events that take place in the gyms that they use. So if players are trying to work out after, like, 2pm on a practice day, they have to find additional spots to do so on their own. That's obviously something the organization would like to fix, you know, so that they can have their players in building at all times and being able to get in their, their work and their practice and their rehab and anything they need to do to be in the best shape possible. So even though the sparcs are in the process of creating a practice facility, there's still going to be at least two seasons of them in a shared space, still dealing with the same challenges that they have over the past however many years.
- [48:31]
Ben Pickman
But I think what Lynne Roberts was kind of talking about, that is another form of stability and investment, right? That recognizing, as you're saying, Sabrina, that this process, they're not creating a practice facility for this season. And as you're talking about L A Real Estate is L A Real Estate, it probably won't be there for, you know, the 2026 season either. Right. And so like, the fact that she is so excited about that prospect I think speaks to, you know, the conversation she's had and also the organizational vision that this hire and what they hope to build is really a long term play. It's not only a short term play, but it is something they are trying to build and sustain and have with them, you know, build this foundation that will really, you know, chart the, the next direction and next generation next era for, for this franchise.
- [49:14]
Sabrina Merchant
Right. And it's one that Lynn obviously expects to be a part of. I mean, when we were doing some research on her before talking to her on this episode, like she had told the president at Utah that she expected it was going to take six to seven years to get the program where they wanted to be. And like to tell your boss in a job interview, like, I expect to need six to seven years to get to where we want to go. Like, they must have some serious faith in you and real commitment to that process. And I'm not saying that the Sparks have promised her six to seven years. I highly doubt it. But she is a builder, right? Like that's a word that keeps coming up with her when Reagan talks about her, when other people have talked about her. And so I would imagine that this is like a long term relationship that they've entered into. If that, if that lasts, who knows? Like, clearly the story of the WNBA this offseason has been a lack of commitment, but it's something that she seems to expect to be a part of. So at least that's a good place to start.
- [50:07]
Ben Pickman
Right. And I guess six or seven years is a long time, but when you think about it, the Los Angeles Sparks have not been to the postseason since 2020 and so they are looking to snap that streak as soon as this season and obviously build a consecutive postseason streak for the years to come. So Sabrina, I'm glad we could post game this part of the conversation and I'm sure you know coming out of it you're excited to be around the Sparks a bunch in the upcoming year. And I know on behalf of the show we are excited for future coaching hires for more of these conversations, both in the pro and the college game. Our normal Tuesday show will take place next week when we'll be, you know, breaking down all that is going on in women's college basketball. And we will continue to, you know, bring you updates on the expansion draft, on free agency, on everything else that's going on in the wnba. And so for Sabrina, I am Ben Pickman. Thank you for listening to the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Keep listening, keep learning, keep loving the game and we will talk to you next week.
- [51:13]
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- [52:31]
Sabrina Merchant
Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's the show that we recommend.
- [52:39]
Lynn Roberts
Hey guys. Welcome to Giggly Squad, a place where.
- [52:42]
Sabrina Merchant
We make fun of everything, but most importantly, ourselves.
- [52:44]
Lynn Roberts
I'm Paige Desorbo.
- [52:46]
Sabrina Merchant
I'm Hannah Burner.
- [52:47]
Lynn Roberts
Welcome to the Squad.
- [52:48]
Sabrina Merchant
Giggly Squad started on Summerhouse when we were giggling during an inappropriate time.
- [52:52]
Lynn Roberts
But of course we can't be managed.
- [52:54]
Sabrina Merchant
So we decided to start this podcast to continue giggling.
- [52:57]
Lynn Roberts
We will make fun of pop culture news. We're watching fashion trends pep talks where we give advice, mental health moments and games and guests.
- [53:06]
Sabrina Merchant
Listen to Giggly Squad on Acast or wherever you get your podcasts. ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.