Los Angeles Sparks Announce $150m Training Facility, A Landmark for Women’s Sport

The Los Angeles Sparks have unveiled plans for a purpose-built training and practice facility in El Segundo, representing a landmark USD150 million (AUD228 million) investment, the largest single-team spend in women’s sport to date.

Scheduled to open in 2027, the 55,000-square-foot complex signals a shift in infrastructure development for the WNBA.

Designed in partnership with global firm Gensler and managed by Transwestern’s Sports & Entertainment Group, the facility is positioned to set a new benchmark in resources provided to professional women athletes. Beyond its performance features, the project reflects growing recognition of the WNBA’s commercial value and the broader business case for investing in women’s sport.

Structural Perspective

The facility will consolidate both basketball and business operations under one roof. Unique to the WNBA, the design incorporates an indoor-outdoor player sanctuary with recovery pools, meditation spaces, and panoramic views of Los Angeles.

WNBA’s first-ever indoor-outdoor player sanctuary, featuring:

• Outdoor spa pool for recovery and pre-hab/rehab
• Dedicated nap rooms
• Flexible wellness spaces for yoga, meditation, and quiet reflection
• Hydrotherapy & Spa Suites
• Two WNBA regulation basketball courts
• Circular locker room designed to foster team unity
• State-of-the-art weight room and training spaces bathed in daylight to support energy and recovery
• Extensive use of natural light and fully retractable doors that bring the outdoors in
• Panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and nearby mountains

For the Los Angeles Sparks’ ownership, the move focuses on a commitment to long-term competitiveness and athlete well-being.

Managing Partner and Governor, Eric Holoman, said the facility was designed to support players “on and off the court,” highlighting its integration of family and community areas. While the WNBA has historically operated with more modest infrastructure than its NBA counterparts, this project signals a narrowing of that gap.

The decision to anchor the development in El Segundo aligns the Sparks with a hub already home to several professional franchises and corporate headquarters. Local government has welcomed the investment, with El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel noting the economic and reputational benefits for the city.

Strategically, the Sparks’ new base could enhance the franchise’s ability to attract talent, sponsors, and community partners at a time when women’s sport is experiencing rapid growth in audience and commercial interest. It also reinforces the WNBA’s broader trajectory, where team-led investment in infrastructure mirrors trends seen in European football and U.S. women’s soccer.

As the facility progresses toward its 2027 opening, the key measure of success will be how effectively it supports the Sparks’ on-court performance while deepening off-court engagement with fans, brands, and the wider Los Angeles community.

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