The Los Angeles Sparks have let head coach Curt Miller go after two seasons, the team announced in an official press release on Tuesday evening — and star Dearica Hamby expressed her disappointment soon after.
“On behalf of our ownership group and franchise, I would like to thank Coach Miller for his passion and commitment to the Sparks organization these past two seasons,” said Eric Holoman, the team’s Governor. “We wish him well moving forward.”
Hamby — the sole All-Star on the Sparks this season, who also publicly appeared close to Miller — expressed support for her coach on Twitter/X soon after the firing was announced.
“You had my back on all levels that some people will never see,” Hamby wrote. “I wish we could’ve had more time as we’ve seen what you’re capable of.”
To @CurtMillerWBB , I am truly thankful for our relationship and I think that showed. You had my back on all levels that some ppl will never see. I wish we could’ve had more time as we’ve seen what you’re capable of.. BUILD is still the belief and you started that! Love you…
— Dearica Marie Hamby (@dearicamarie) September 25, 2024
“This is hard for me as a big part of my transition success and support to LA has been Curt,” Hamby wrote on Twitter. “I hope there is grace in this process for a proven, amazing coach. Everything shouldn’t fall on his shoulders, and there’s so much more that goes into coaching besides wins and losses.”
During Miller’s two-year tenure, the Sparks finished with a 25-55 record. Prior to his time on the Sparks, Miller was the head coach of the Connecticut Sun for 7 seasons, and before that, he was a Sparks assistant. While he never got the Sun over the hump, has accrued the 11th-most regular-season wins in WNBA history, and holds a career regular season record of 165-141, and. He is the Sparks’ 17th head coach in 28 seasons.
In the Sparks’ press release, the team noted a slew of individual accolades that Sparks players were awarded under Miller’s leadership. In 2023, Nneka Ogwumike was named an All-Star and All-WNBA Second Team member, and Jordin Canada made the All-Defensive First Team. In 2024, Dearica Hamby was named a WNBA All-Star and the Associated Press Most Improved Player, while rookie Rickea Jackson was named to the AP All-Rookie Team.
“I want to thank the entire Sparks organization for the opportunity to lead and help rebuild the franchise,” Miller said in the official statement. “I am proud of the culture created in our locker room and strongly believe the roots have been established for a bright future. The team is now positioned for success, and I wish the players the best heading into the 2025 season.”
Miller was previously an assistant coach at Colorado State University, where now-Aces head coach Becky Hammon was the star point guard. Hammon was asked about the difficulties of winning in the WNBA and Miller’s firing ahead of the Aces’ Game 2 matchup against the Storm.
“Teams don’t win, coaches get fired. Period. And that’s what you sign up for,” Hammon said.
Becky Hammon weighed in on Curt Miller’s firing from the Sparks:
“Teams don’t win, coaches get fired, period. And that’s what you sign up for.” “
“You don’t like to see any coach lose their job ever.”
And jokes: “We did our part, we let them have two wins” pic.twitter.com/xusYfBhaNa
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 24, 2024
Hammon also acknowledged there were front office changes in the midst of Miller’s tenure that further complicated things.
“You don’t like to see any coach lose their job ever. I don’t know what direction they’re going in. But a lot of times when you bring in new management, you kind of want to hire your own coach, so I get that aspect of it — because you have a certain vision of what you want the team to be,” Hammon said. “So yeah, that’s difficult, especially a friend. It stinks.”
With a chuckle, Hammon noted that the Aces fell to the Sparks twice in the 2024 season.
“But, we did our part. We let them have two wins.”
