The Los Angeles Sparks has let go of executive vice president and general manager Penny Toler, it was announced Friday morning.
According to ESPN, just last season the Sparks were swept out of the WNBA semifinals, a series in which sources said Toler gave a fiery speech to the team after Game 2 that included the “N-word” on multiple occasions.
“By no means did I call my players the N-word,” Toler told ESPN days before her departure. “I’m not saying that I couldn’t have used it in a context. But it wasn’t directed at any of my players.”
“It’s unfortunate I used that word. I shouldn’t. Nobody should. … But you know, like I said, I’m not here to defend word by word by word what I said. I know some of the words that I’m being accused of are embellished. Did I give a speech that I hoped would get our team going? Yes.”
She continued, “I think that this whole conversation has been taken out of context because when we lose, emotions are running high and, unfortunately and obviously, some people feel some type of way.”
Toler has been the Sparks’ GM since 1999 and has been a part of three WNBA championships (2001, 2002, 2016); Toler also scored the first points in the league’s history as a professional player in 1997.
Sparks governor Eric Holoman said in a statement, “On behalf of ownership and the entire Sparks organization, I’d like to thank Penny Toler for a successful and historic tenure with the organization.”
“Penny is a foundational figure in the growth of the WNBA and helped lead our franchise to perennial playoff success and multiple titles.”
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Firing Penny Toler after 20 years leading this team from the front office, this is a huge mistake.
I saw Penny make the first basket in WNBA history at the Forum. I watched as she transformed the team after becoming the GM. I was lucky to get to know Penny a little bit when I did outreach work for the Sparks for a couple seasons. She and I hit it off right away. Penny knows the game and the players, like a basketball savant. She always struck me as the WNBA’s Jerry West. How she brought in grreat players year after year to go with her teams core, very impressive.
Those guards that she brought in starting with trading Ukari Figgs to Portland for Nikki Teasley, this was a bold move. Ukari was a very good point guard and the Sparks were coming off their first championship. Trading the starting point guard from the championship team, for a rookie, that seemed crazy. Until seeing Teasley and her full court passes. How did it turn out? Teasley made the winning shot in the finals to give the Sparks their 2nd championship in a row. I tried to contact Penny after the Sparks were eliminated this year. The website listed her name, but no contact info. Unlike every other employee. Thought that was weird, now I get it. She had already been fired. I hope the league expands soon and Denver gets a team. I hope that Penny gets the GM position and wins many more championships. Sparks? I don’t understand this firing.
Have you no loyalty?