Sparks Name WNBA Executive Karen Bryant to General Manager – Daily News

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LOS ANGELES — With the 2023 free agency period beginning Jan. 11, the Sparks began rounding out their front office Monday by naming Karen Bryant as the team’s new managing director and general manager, according to Eric Holloman, team owner and managing partner.

Bryant will be tasked with overseeing business operations and basketball. She previously spent 15 years with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, serving as the team’s Chief Operating Officer before serving as team president and CEO. During her tenure, Seattle won the 2004 and 2010 WNBA Championships.

Bryant is a talented and seasoned athletic director with a proven track record of building successful organizations, Holloman said.

“Since joining the Sparks, she has created a bold vision and a solid foundation for long-term growth throughout the franchise,” said Holman. “I am confident that her executive leadership, in partnership with Coach Kurt Miller and President Vanessa Shay, will lead to sustainable success on and off the field.”

“I am really excited to partner with Kurt, Vanessa, and the rest of our team to usher in a new era of Sparks Basketball,” Bryant said, in a press release provided by the team. “We are committed to building a culture and organization that represents the amazing legacy this franchise holds.”

Meanwhile, Miller, who was hired Oct. 21, shared his feelings about working with Bryant on Twitter: “KB is an elite leader and veteran of the W. … Excited for the Sparks and looking forward to our journey together.”

Bryant was initially hired by Sparks in 2021 as a strategic advisor and later accepted the role of interim Chief Commercial Officer. In her time with the team, she is credited with leading the search to hire Shay and Miller.

The Sparks also announced that Eli Horowitz has been promoted to Assistant General Manager, a role in which he will help oversee player personnel, scouting, salary cap management, and basketball analytics.

Eli Horowitz
The Sparks hired Eli Horowitz as the team’s new assistant general manager. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Sparks).

Horowitz is entering his sixth season with the Sparks and most recently served as the senior director for basketball communications and analytics.

“Eli has been a huge contributor to the Sparks over the past five seasons and he very much deserves the new opportunity,” Bryant said. “His passion for the WNBA combined with his knowledge of the players and their analysis will be a valuable addition to our basketball operations team.”

Miller also shared his thoughts on Horowitz’s promotion on Twitter: “The exciting pieces of our puzzle continue… I’ve admired and enjoyed working alongside Eli since I was hired. I love colleagues who grind.”

Horowitz said he is grateful for the new opportunity.

“I want to thank Karen Bryant and Eric Holloman for the amazing opportunity to serve as assistant general managers for this iconic franchise,” Horowitz said in a press release. “I am excited to work alongside the best athletes in the world and play a part in building the next chapter of Los Angeles Sparks basketball.”

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