It is being reported that the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty have expressed interest in Los Angeles Sparks assistant coach Latricia Trammell. The assistant coach has been with the Sparks since 2019.
Sources familiar tell @TheNextHoops that both @nyliberty and @PhoenixMercury have expressed interest in top @LASparks assistant Latricia Trammell. Not a surprise, given her success running LA's defense. #WNBA
— Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) December 13, 2021
Brondello and Hopkins
The Mercury did not renew Sandy Bondello’s contract, which expired after the 2021 season. Brondello coached eight seasons, posting a 150-108 record, and the Mercury made the Playoffs every year. In 2014 Brondello helped coach Phoenix to its third WNBA title.
Walt Hopkins was fired after two seasons with the New York Liberty. In his first season, the Liberty went 2-20, and this past season 12-20, but made the playoffs. New York won just one of their last nine games.
Latricia Trammell
Trammell is known for her defensive coaching. Under Trammell’s tutelage, the Sparks finished third in the WNBA in defensive rating in 2020 and 2021. In addition, she helped Candace Parker win Defensive Player of the Year and Brittney Sykes to second-team All-Defensive Team in 2020. This past season Sykes was named to first-team All-Defense.
Trammell played college basketball at Seminole State College and East Central University; she was head coach in NAIA Division 1 women’s basketball. In addition, Trammell coached Oklahoma City University to two national championships in 2014 and 2015. Trammell posted an 85-10 record in three years at Oklahoma City. Trammell was also the head coach of Western State Colorado for five years and had many other NCAA assistant coaching jobs.
The Sparks assistant coach has also served on the WBCA National Convention Advisory Board and the voting committee for USA Today/ESPN D-II Top 25. In her 27 years of coaching, Trammell has posted a 255-131 overall high school and college basketball record.
I had the chance to interview coach Trammell while she was in the bubble, check it out below:
It is time for Trammell to get a head coaching job in the WNBA; she has earned it and would make an outstanding coach for whatever team hires her, Trammell’s defensive mind would help both New York and Phoenix.
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