The Sparks are finally turning a corner. After years stuck outside the playoff picture, they finished 21-23 this season—way better than last year’s 8-32. And now they’re doubling down on that progress. The franchise just announced a $150 million, 55,000-square-foot practice facility in El Segundo, set to open in 2027. It’s being billed as the biggest single-team investment in women’s sports history. The irony? Magic Johnson, their legendary co-owner, recently admitted that he didn’t see a single “dime” in those early ownership years.
Magic Johnson couldn’t hide his excitement, taking to Instagram to share the big news himself. “I’m excited about the new LA Sparks state-of-the-art practice facility which will be the best in all of the WNBA!” he wrote. He went on to add, “I want to congratulate my Sparks partner and new Lakers Owner Mark Walter, as well as my business partner Eric Holoman, for making this dream facility come to fruition!”
And this isn’t just another training center—it’s designed to be a true “player sanctuary.” Think outdoor spa pool, dedicated nap rooms, flexible wellness spaces for yoga and meditation, plus hydrotherapy and spa suites. Add in two full WNBA regulation courts, a circular locker room built to foster unity, and a state-of-the-art weight room bathed in natural light with retractable doors opening to views of the Pacific Ocean and nearby mountains—it’s luxury with a purpose.
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Sparks governor Eric Holoman put it best when he said, “We’re building a place where Sparks players can be at their best on and off the court. From cutting-edge training and recovery spaces to family and community areas, every corner of this facility was designed with them at the center. It reflects our commitment to our team, our fans, and the City of Los Angeles, and sets a new standard for what a professional sports organization can provide for its athletes.”
What makes this extra significant is how far the Sparks have come.
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The three-time WNBA champions, who play their games at Crypto.com Arena, have never had a permanent facility to call their own. Over the past few years, they’ve bounced around—from The Academy in Pasadena (2021) to Jump Beyond in Torrance (2022), El Camino College (2023–24), and most recently JR286 (2025). Partnering with global design firm Gensler and Studio Blitz, this new home finally puts them on the same playing field as the league’s best.
And really, it’s about time. The Sparks are catching up to an arms race across the WNBA. The Phoenix Mercury set the bar in 2024 with their $100 million, 58,000-square-foot facility—complete with two courts named after Diana Taurasi, hydrotherapy pools, a full kitchen, and lounge areas. That same year, the Seattle Storm unveiled its $64 million Center for Basketball Performance, the first practice facility built entirely from the ground up for a WNBA team. The Las Vegas Aces were already ahead, with their massive 64,000-square-foot headquarters next to the Raiders’ complex in Henderson.
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Now, with El Segundo on the horizon, the Sparks are finally making sure they’re not left behind.
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When the Sparks stumbled, Magic Johnson stepped in
Is it Magic Johnson’s Midas touch or just a sharp business strategy that’s fueling this massive Sparks investment? Well, if you ask Magic, it’s all business. As of 2025, Forbes values the LA Sparks at $235 million, with $16 million in revenue — ranking them eighth among WNBA teams. That’s a long way from where things started. When Magic became a minority owner back in 2014, he didn’t exactly jump into a money-maker. At Invest Fest, he reflected honestly: “Now, we’ve owned this the Sparks for a few years. We haven’t made a dime. All right. It’s been a tough going for the WNBA except now.”
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That rough stretch had Magic and his partners even second-guessing their decision. “There was a time when we said, ‘Should we sell this?’ And we kept saying, ‘No, let’s hold on to it,’” he admitted. Holding on turned out to be the right call. Back in 2014, when Magic first came on board, the Sparks were one of the WNBA’s original franchises but far from thriving. And just when things looked like they might stabilize, the bottom fell out.
Around Christmas, former owner Paula Madison announced her family could no longer operate the team after losing $12 million since 2007, including $1.4 million in just the last season. Suddenly, the Sparks were in limbo, the league was scrambling, and even the Golden State Warriors explored buying and relocating the franchise to the Bay Area. Scheduling froze, free agency was stalled—it felt like the Sparks’ time in Los Angeles was hanging by a thread.
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That’s when Magic stepped in and changed everything. Alongside Dodgers chairman Mark Walter, he swooped in to buy the team, keeping the Sparks in L.A. and saving one of the WNBA’s founding franchises from collapse or relocation. And now looking at where the Sparks stand now—with a new $150 million practice facility on the way and the WNBA seeing record investments, including the Connecticut Sun’s $325 million sale—the value of this franchise is only headed in one direction: up.