Derek Fisher fired as head coach of WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks

The Los Angeles Sparks have fired head coach Derek Fisher and named assistant Fred Williams as his interim replacement.

Fisher, who won five championships playing with the Lakers and previously served as a coach for the Knicks, took over as head coach in Los Angeles in 2019 and later as general manager in December 2020. He finished his career with the Sparks with a 54-46 record.

«On behalf of our ownership group, I want to thank Derek for his efforts and contributions to the Sparks franchise,» Sparks managing partner Eric Holoman said. «We wish him the best moving forward. I have full confidence in Fred Williams to step into the role of interim head coach, bringing a wealth of experience leading WNBA teams.»

The Sparks were hoping to rebound from a 12-20 campaign last season in which they missed the postseason for the first time since 2011. Despite bringing in four-time All-Star Liz Cambage and the 2020 No. 4 overall draft pick Chennedy Carter in the offseason, the Sparks are just 5-7 and in eighth place in the standings to start the 2022 season, which included a four-game losing streak last month.

«I want to thank the LA Sparks organization, ownership, staff, players, and fans for the opportunity they have afforded me over the last four years as a part of this historic franchise,» Fisher said. «Their support has allowed me to grow as both a coach and front office executive and I am proud of what we have accomplished.»

The three-time champion Sparks, one of the three remaining founding franchises in the WNBA, won one playoff game in Fisher's three full seasons in Los Angeles.