Sparks General Manager
The Los Angeles Sparks appoint Ariana Andonian as their fourth general manager since 2022.
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Key Points
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Andonian will be the Sparks’ fourth general manager since 2022. After Raegan Pebley’s dismissal, assistant general managers Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen handled the role on an interim basis.
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The Sparks have won three WNBA championships, but their most recent title came in 2016, underscoring the length of the franchise’s current rebuilding period.
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In her most recent 76ers role, Andonian ran the organization’s professional scouting group and co-led its broader scouting efforts, adding specific management experience beyond her work with the Delaware Blue Coats.
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Sparks governor Eric Holoman said Andonian’s vision for building both a team and an organization was the factor that stood out most during the hiring process, alongside her reputation as a talent evaluator.
The Los Angeles Sparks have hired 31-year-old Ariana Andonian as their new general manager, making her the franchise's fourth GM since 2022 LA Times. Andonian, a Southern California native and USC graduate, most recently worked as vice president of player personnel for the Philadelphia 76ers and served as general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the team's G League affiliate RealGM. She replaces Raegan Pebley, who was dismissed in July after two and a half years on the job.
Andonian brings over a decade of scouting and talent evaluation experience from stops with the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, 76ers, and Duke's basketball program Newsy Today. The Sparks face a sixth consecutive season without playoff basketball, and Andonian will oversee roster construction, scouting, coaching decisions and strategy for a franchise seeking to end its worst drought since winning the 2016 championship.
A Decade Without Playoff Basketball
The Sparks haven't made the playoffs since 2016, the same year they won their most recent championship LA Times. That marks a six-year drought for a franchise with three WNBA titles in its history. The organization has cycled through three general managers in just three years, creating instability in roster planning and personnel decisions.
Raegan Pebley's firing in July left the Sparks in limbo. Assistant general managers Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen stepped in on an interim basis before the team recruited Andonian from Philadelphia's front office RealGM. Governor Eric Holoman emphasized that Andonian's vision for building both a team and an organization stood out during the hiring process.
Andonian's NBA Scouting Background Sets Her Apart
Andonian's path differs from typical WNBA executive hires. At Philadelphia, she ran the organization's professional scouting group and co-led broader scouting efforts Hoops Rumors. Her role in Delaware gave her direct experience with roster construction and player development. This combination of NBA-level evaluation and hands-on general manager experience could help the Sparks build systematic talent pipelines.
She spent time evaluating talent for the Rockets and Grizzlies before joining the 76ers in 2024 LA Times. Her multi-team background means she has seen different organizational approaches to scouting, player development and roster building. That exposure gives her frameworks beyond what most women's basketball executives have experienced.
Replacing Star Power and Stabilizing the Roster
The Sparks face immediate roster challenges. All-star Nneka Ogwumike retired, removing a cornerstone veteran from the lineup. Kelsey Plum was traded to Phoenix, leaving the team with significant production gaps RealGM. Andonian must rebuild around the remaining core while deciding whether to retain coach Lynne Roberts.
The hiring signals the Sparks' commitment to a systematic rebuild rather than another short-term reset. Andonian's stated focus on building strong organizational processes suggests the team is attempting to create institutional stability for the first time since the franchise's 2016 championship run Newsy Today.
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