Despite the front-office shake-up, Roberts said the team’s focus remains unchanged, with a playoff push still the priority.

“Whatever you need, just tell me. We don’t have to play mind games. We don’t have to guess.”

Jackson was developing into a cornerstone player, a fan favorite, and one of the Sparks’ most promising young assets. And yet—she’s gone.

"Sometimes just winning that one game—it changes the mindset and reminds us of what we’re capable of,” said Elizabeth Williams