The WNBA L.A. Sparks named former Seattle Storm President & CEO KAREN BRYANT Chief Administrative Officer & GM, according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the L.A. TIMES. Bryant's primary WNBA experience came during 15 years with the Storm, where she served as COO, and for the final seven years of her tenure, President & CEO. Bryant was one of the Storm's "first hires" when the WNBA awarded Seattle a team in 1999. Since resigning from the Storm in 2014, Bryant "founded an advisory company focused on advancing women's sports" and joined the Sparks in 2021 as a "strategic advisor." She "helped lead the search for current Sparks President VANESSA SHAY and coach CURT MILLER" (L.A. TIMES, 1/4). ESPN.com's M.A. Voepel noted the Sparks have been without a GM since former coach/GM DEREK FISHER was "fired in June during the 2022 WNBA season" (1/3). Bryant was named an SBJ Game Changer in 2011 (SBJ). Meanwhile, in L.A., John Davis noted the Sparks also promoted Senior Dir of Communications & Basketball Analytics ELI HOROWITZ to Assistant GM, a role where he will "help oversee player personnel, scouting, salary cap management and basketball analytics" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/3).
