Los Angeles Sparks

Cameron Brink's Sparks career is just getting started, but she's already rubbing elbows with some of L.A.'s biggest names ... hanging out with Kim Kardashian and her daughter, North West, right after her first game -- and she came bearing gifts!!

The Los Angeles Sparks forward made her WNBA debut on Wednesday ... posting 11 points and four assists in the 92-81 loss to the Atlanta Dream.

Brink -- whose godbrother is NBA superstar Steph Curry -- and her teammates drew a star-studded crowd ... including Lakers legend and team owner Magic Johnson, who was sitting courtside.

Former Lakers point guard Derek Fisher is giving basketball coaching another shot ... but not in the pros or college -- he's going to high school!!

The five-time NBA champion is back to planning Xs and Os after getting hired by Crespi Carmelite High School, a boys prep school in the greater Los Angeles area, officials announced Monday.

The gig marks Fisher's first return to the bench after being fired by the Los Angeles Sparks in June 2022, and his third job overall.

Remember, Kobe Bryant's ex-teammate and buddy started out as the New York Knicks' head coach from 2014 to 2016 ... and was let go after recording a 40-96 record.

Derek took over as the Sparks' head coach role in December 2018, where he would also eventually become general manager.

The 48-year-old Laker is now taking over the Encino-based program, which previously developed NBA talents like guard De'Anthony Melton and forward Brandon Williams.

Fisher's Celts will play in the Mission League ... where they will face off against the likes of Sierra Canyon, where Bronny James, Marvin Bagley III and Brandon Boston Jr. suited up ... and Notre Dame, where LeBron James' second-eldest son, Bryce, is reportedly considering attending next year.

Jeff Bezos won't be the new owner of the Washington Commanders ... the Amazon founder reportedly won't bid on the NFL franchise despite months of interest, and a secretive meeting with Jay-Z.

According to Puck News, Bezos, whose net worth is $120 billion (according to Forbes), is no longer planning to buy Dan Snyder's team ... and barring something changing, JB won't be the team's new owner.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Bezos and Jay-Z met for a secret meeting in L.A. in November, where we're told they discussed a potential partnership.

Although it won't be Bezos, it's still possible D.C. will have a famous owner. As we previously reported, Magic Johnson is part of a group with 76ers owner Josh Harris and billionaire Mitchell Rales. They reportedly submitted a $6 billion bid to buy the team.

The Lakers Hall of Famer confirmed the news on an episode of "Today" ... saying he's excited the bid is in and hopes Snyder makes the right decision.

Magic is no stranger to owning a team ... the five-time NBA champion has a stake in the LA Dodgers, Sparks, and LAFC, the pro soccer team.

Derek Fisher is out ... the Los Angeles Sparks parted ways with the NBA champ, who served as the head coach and general manager, the team announced on Tuesday.

"On behalf of our ownership group, I want to thank Derek for his efforts and contributions to the Sparks franchise," team exec Eric Holoman said.

"We wish him the best moving forward. I have full confidence in Fred Williams to step into the role of interim head coach, bringing a wealth of experience leading WNBA teams."

In 3 seasons with the Sparks, Fisher led the org. to a 49-39 record in the regular season ... going 1-4 in the postseason.

But, this season got off to a rough start for the 47-year-old, who was relieved of his duties after starting 5-7 with the Sparks this year.

"I want to thank the LA Sparks organization, ownership, staff, players, and fans for the opportunity they have afforded me over the last four years as a part of this historic franchise," Fisher said.

"Their support has allowed me to grow as both a coach and front office executive and I am proud of what we have accomplished."

Anyone have a staple remover??

The iconic Staples Center signage is officially coming down on Monday ... with workers slowly removing the red letters off of the building to make way for Crypto.com Arena.

As we previously reported, the cryptocurrency company bought the naming rights to the venue last month ... which came with a whopping $700 MILLION price tag.

While the name change won't officially happen until Christmas Day, AEG wasted no time kick-starting the rebrand ... which will undoubtedly have some fans upset.

Of course, Staples Center was often referred to as "The House That Kobe Built," as a nod to the late Lakers legend, who played at the venue for the majority of his Hall of Fame career.

No matter what people officially call the arena, Vanessa Bryant made it clear all the history that Kobe made inside will always live on.

Staples Center is no more ... the iconic building that the Lakers and Clippers have called home since 1999 is getting a new name -- Crypto.com Arena.

Officials announced the stunning name change Tuesday night ... explaining the rebrand will take effect on Christmas Day next month.

The new name will stick for the next 20 years as part of the new agreement, officials say ... and the new deal will all reportedly cost the cryptocurrency app around $700 MILLION.

Of course, the announcement was hardly met with joy from L.A. fans -- as the building has only been known as Staples Center for YEARS to Kings, Sparks, Lakers and Clippers fans.

Still, officials were pumped over the move nonetheless ... sending out a mock of how the new signage will look on the top of the building in 2022.

In the announcement of the new deal, officials also promised "large-scale, premium branding and signage throughout the interior and exterior" of the new Crypto.com Arena.

Former L.A. Sparks GM Penny Toler says her firing in 2019 is complete B.S. ... and now she's suing the team claiming she was only axed because she complained about fellow executives' inappropriate behavior.

Remember, Toler was canned during last year's WNBA postseason ... after she used the n-word during what she claims was a pump-up locker room speech.

At the time, it was reported the Sparks had fired her over the speech ... but in a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, Toler claims that wasn't the case at all.

Toler says the REAL reason she was 86'd has to do with complaints she filed about multiple key personnel within the Sparks organization ... including the head coach.

In her suit, Toler says players had complained to her about Brian Agler -- the head coach at the time --  claiming he had made them uncomfortable with "sexually predatory conduct."

Toler says she pushed for the team to investigate ... but said her boss refused to.

Toler also claims she tried to blow the whistle on an extra-marital affair involving high-level team execs -- but her complaints went nowhere.

In her suit, filed by attorney Dawn Collins, Toler also says she wanted to trade Sparks star player Candace Parker -- but former team president Christine Simmons intervened and used her influence to stop the trade talks and get Toler fired.

Why? Toler claims Simmons and Parker are close personal friends and it was more important to keep Parker in L.A. than to do what was in the best interests of the team.

Toler's rep, Holly Baird, tells TMZ Sports ... "It's ridiculous that the organization used Toler's use of the word 'n***a' during a locker-room speech to rally the team against her when during practices and workouts songs played from Spotify, were laced with the same slang expletives or worse."

WNBA superstar Candace Parker has just been hit with divorce papers from her husband, a former NBA player, who's demanding spousal support from the 2016 Finals MVP ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We obtained court docs filed by Shelden Williams -- a former Duke star who was the #5 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. Williams played in the NBA for 6 seasons.

Williams and Parker were married back in 2008 -- and have a 7-year-old daughter together.

According to the divorce docs, Williams says the two separated back in August and are living apart. Now, he wants to officially end their 7 year marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. He's asking for joint custody of their kid.

But get this ... Williams -- who reportedly made more than $12 MILLION during his NBA career -- is demanding spousal support from Parker. He also wants her to pay his attorneys fees.

FYI, Parker reportedly makes in the low 6-figures with the L.A. Sparks -- but crushes it overseas, where reports say she hauls in more than $1 MILLION per year. She also has major endorsements including a deal with Adidas.

We reached out to Parker's camp. So far, no word back.

THE CHAMPS HAVE RETURNED!!!

The WNBA champion Sparks made their triumphant return to L.A. moments ago -- so, we had to ask the obvious question ... HOW'D YOU CELEBRATE?????

Clubs? Yes. Boozing? Absolutely. Strippers??? Not exactly ... at least not yet.

But according to rookie Evgeniia Belyakova (she's from Russia), it ain't outta the question!

Magic Johnson is going to SAVE the WNBA ... or at least the L.A. Sparks ... so says Mark Cuban who tells us if there's anyone who bring the team back from financial ruin, it's their new celebrity owner.

Shocking, considering the Sparks are BROKE ASS BROKE -- they haven't made a profit in years and were expected to lose another MILLION DOLLARS this season.

But that was before Magic and his ownership group stepped in ... and now Cuban (who knows a little something about investments) says it's the perfect move.

TMZ Sports: Do you think Magic can turn the Sparks into a success?
Cuban: "Yes yes yes. I love it. It will be great. Plus with his Dodgers ownership he will have a promotional platform."

Fun Fact -- the Sparks actually led the league in attendance over the past two seasons.

Magic Johnson's son EJ is BLOWING UP as a reality star on "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" ... and the NBA legend tells TMZ Sports he couldn't be PROUDER!!!

In fact, Magic says he thinks the shameless E! reality show will springboard EJ into a TV superstar -- and predicts it won't be long before the kid has his own show.

Magic really couldn't be a more supportive parent -- especially after the way he had EJ's back when his son revealed he's gay.

There's more .. Magic also talks about recently buying the L.A. Sparks and also takes another shot at the Lakers. Check out the clip.

L.A. Sparks rookie Jantel Lavender -- the #5 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft -- allegedly kneed her ex-BF in the junk so hard, his groin area was "throbbing from the pain" ... this according to legal docs obtained by TMZ.

According to court papers filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Lavender's ex Adam Ashley obtained a temporary restraining order against the 6'4" athlete two weeks ago ... claiming he's been "in hiding" ever since a July 5 altercation where Lavender allegedly grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him.

In the docs, Ashley also says Lavender "grabbed my head and slammed it into the wall. She grabbed my neck and was choking me."

Ashley claims it wasn't the first time Lavender got violent with him -- alleging she also tried to choke him during a fight in June. During that altercation, Ashley claims, "While I was grabbing for her hands she kneed me in the growing [SIC] area. My private area was throbbing from the pain."

Jantel has been ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Ashley until the next court hearing.

After the judge granted the restraining order against Jantel -- she filed a request for a restraining order of her own against Adam ... claiming he attempted to punch her during a recent screaming match at her home.

You'd think the WNBA would be desperate for spectators -- but a player on the L.A. Sparks wants one fan to stay the hell away ... and she's asking for a restraining order to make sure that happens.

Sparks center Jantel Lavender filed the request for a restraining order last week -- asking a judge to keep her ex-boyfriend Adam Ashley at least 50 yards away from her and her family at all times ... including games.

According to the docs, Adam attended a recent Sparks game and followed Jantel home -- where the two got into a screaming match and Adam attempted to punch her.

The fight went on all night -- and Jantel claims she eventually called the police to kick Adam out. Jantel claims she had to call the police AGAIN the next day -- when Adam came back to continue his "angry rampage."