Derek Fisher discusses Candace Parker, lessons from first Sparks’ season

The Sparks first-year head coach shared part of his outlook for the team moving forward

Despite a successful regular season in which the Los Angeles Sparks finished with the third-best record in the WNBA at 22-12, an improvement from the 19-15 finish in 2018, they had a disappointing finish.

After defeating the Seattle Storm in the second round of the playoffs, they were unceremoniously swept by the Connecticut Sun in the semifinals. Questions arose following the game regarding head coach Derek Fisher’s in-game rotations and decision making including benching Candace Parker in the second half of Game 3.

Longtime general manager Penny Toler, who to this point had been the longest-tenured executive in the WNBA, was let go following an ESPN report about her locker room address after the Sparks Game 2 loss in Connecticut.

The Sparks hosted an event on Monday night at the Tom’s Watch Bar across the street from Staples Center dubbed ‘Purple Print,’ in which Fisher addressed both media and fans regarding some of those decisions, as well as his experiences as a first-year head coach in the WNBA and what his vision looks like heading forward.

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“The reality is we all needed to be better. Whenever I say ‘we,’ I include myself in that. Until we accomplish our goals and objectives, we’re always going to have questions,” Fisher said. “And we’ll come back next year and find a way to be better and, hopefully, the ending will be better than it was in ’19.”

Fisher mentioned that he’s been keeping tabs on the Sparks players currently overseas, as well as checking in with Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray who have been playing in exhibition games with Team USA this fall.

He’s also done a little bit of scouting at college games and mentioned that he’s been in constant contact with acting general manager Eric Holoman and assistant general manager Michael Fischer. He’s been kept up to date regarding any possible new executive to replace Toler.

Both Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike showed up at the event in support of the organization, and Fisher remarked how important it is that he and management maintain solid communication with current players during the offseason.

“We have several players still under contract that we have to make sure they’re getting the right message about what we’re doing,” Fisher said. “We’re still conducting business and doing what we think are the best things for the organization, preparing for free agency, college scouting, and most importantly continue to stay in contact.”

Regarding Fisher’s relationship with Parker and how the playoffs ended, he remarked how disagreements between coaches and players are something that will always occur especially regarding playing time. It’s something he can recall from his playing days in the NBA.

“I think the idea for all of us is to not allow individual moments to try to define who we are and what we do,” Fisher said. “I think we’re all at a point where we can move forward and it’s more about 2020 and what we can do as opposed to getting stuck in what we could have and should have done.”

Throughout his first season as head coach, Fisher constantly talked about the lessons he learned winning championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and how that has helped him at times. He’s been able to remain steadfast and stay determined to build this team into a winner.

“There’s a blueprint of success. You establish it, build it, and follow it. Success doesn’t always happen the way you think it should, you just have to be willing to stick with it,” Fisher said. “When it ends in frustration and everybody’s disappointed, that’s a part of it. That’s what makes you appreciate it when you actually get it done, how hard it is to get there.”

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