Curt Miller out as Sparks head coach after two seasons

The Los Angeles Sparks and head coach Curt Smith parted ways on Tuesday, the team announced. LA said the decision was "mutual." 2024 was a difficult season for the Sparks, but Smith's departure is still fairly surprising.

Miller has been a head coach at the WNBA level since 2016. He previously coached the Connecticut Sun before landing the Sparks' head coaching job. LA went 17-23 in 2023 in Miller's first season with the team. Things got worse in 2024, as the Sparks finished with a WNBA-worst 8-32 record.

Still, moving on from a head coach after two seasons is quite fast. However, the decision was mutual so perhaps Miller felt he wanted a change. Both Miller and the Sparks will receive the opportunity for a fresh start following a forgettable 2024 campaign.

Of course, the Sparks are hoping to get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Losing is never ideal but the Sparks are set to continue their rebuild.

It will be interesting to see where Miller ends up. He could ultimately take some time away from coaching, but Miller may draw interest from WNBA teams given his coaching experience.

Curt Miller is a coaching free agent

A number of teams in the WNBA could end up displaying interest in Miller. Miller led the Sun to winning records in five of his seven seasons with the team. In fact, he led the Sun to the WNBA Finals in 2022, however, they were defeated by the Las Vegas Aces for the championship.

Nevertheless, Miller has found success as a head coach in the WNBA. His time in LA did not produce much winning, but the Sparks are also rebuilding. A contender could benefit from adding a veteran coach such as Miller.

The decision for Miller and the Sparks to part ways is fresh, though. Both sides will likely take a good amount of time before making their next moves.

What's next for the Sparks?

The Sparks need to hire a coach who can lead the rebuild. LA is developing a core of players who the team hopes can compete together for years to come. Adding a quality head coach into the conversation will be of the utmost importance, however.

One has to imagine that Los Angeles will take their time before announcing Miller's replacement. Their head coaching decision will go a long way towards determining how the team will fare over the next few years.