The Los Angeles Sparks recently announced changes to their coaching staff for the upcoming 2026 season, featuring both returning and fresh faces. Second-year head coach Lynne Roberts returns to the Sparks alongside Zak Buncik, while the team welcomes Ebony Hoffman and Zach O’Brien.
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Buncik Seeks to Continue His Impact
Zak Buncik joined the Sparks in 2025 as an assistant coach, having previously served in various roles for the Dallas Wings over the previous three seasons.
Since last season, Buncik has brought over a decade of coaching experience, including serving as an assistant coach at the University of Texas-Arlington and as an offseason WNBA trainer. Prior to his hiring with Los Angeles, he coached the Sparks’ own Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell during the inaugural Unrivaled season.
Buncik has played an integral part in the Sparks’ development, who finished the 2025 WNBA season with a 21-23 record, winning 12 more games than the previous season, showing vast improvement fans can expect to continue.
Sparks Bring On Former WNBA Standout Hoffman
Along with Buncik’s expertise comes Ebony Hoffman, a former WNBA player for the Indiana Fever, Connecticut Sun, and Los Angeles Sparks who has a total of 11 seasons under her belt.
Hoffman returns to LA as an assistant coach after coaching with the Seattle Storm for the last three seasons.
In a statement released by the Sparks, Hoffman says she is “incredibly excited for the opportunity to join Coach Lynne Roberts’ staff,” and that “[Roberts’] vision for where this team can go is electrifying, and I’m thrilled to get to work on honoring this organization’s championship legacy and standards.”
Hoffman previously earned the distinction of 2008 WNBA Most Improved Player and was a three-time recipient of the All-Pac-10 Conference award during her collegiate career at the University of Southern California.
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What Will Zach O’Brien’s Previous Successes Mean for the Sparks?
Last but certainly not least, the Sparks are bringing on Zach O’Brien.
O’Brien joins the Sparks after serving as a member of Sandy Brondello’s coaching staff during the New York Liberty’s 2024 championship season. Prior to the Liberty, he served as the Director of Player Development for the Phoenix Mercury.
O’Brien returns to the West Coast with a breadth of coaching experience that will undoubtedly serve the Sparks well. Known for his detail-oriented approach, he will help the Sparks thrive and continue to capitalize on their success from last season.
O’Brien is also set to serve as the head coach of Mist Basketball Club during the 2026 Unrivaled season
Roberts is excited about the new additions to the team, saying that “Ebony and Zach bring complementary strengths, shared values, and a deep understanding of today’s WNBA. Together with our returning staff, they form a unified group that is prepared, innovative, and aligned around building a culture our players can thrive in. I’m incredibly excited for the direction we’re heading and the standard this staff will set for the 2026 season.”
Along with the ongoing construction of their new training and practice facility, these coaching changes are setting the Sparks up for the success they have long awaited.
The Sparks hope that the addition of Hoffman and O’Brien will help to strengthen the franchise’s commitment to player development, culture-building, and competitive excellence.
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