EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 6, 2007 — The Los Angeles Sparks have named entertainment industry executive Nancy Spears as the team’s new president, it was announced today.

The announcement comes on the heels of the December acquisition of the Sparks by an investment group led by lawyers Katherine Goodman and Carla Christofferson, who have a combined 35 years of business expertise and community leadership in Los Angeles.

Spears joins the Sparks from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, where she was director of worldwide acquisitions. She identified and evaluated non-theatrical and select film projects for worldwide home video distribution. Prior to that, Spears was director of marketing for Kid Franchise Entertainment at Warner Home Video, where she oversaw marketing of non-theatrical animation franchises, including Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, Tom and Jerry and DC Comics, to adult consumers.

Spears also marketed some of the best-known brands in the world, such as Hot Wheels and Nickelodeon-branded toys during her tenure at Mattel. She has a BA in Economics from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from Duke University.

A 1987 graduate of South Pasadena High School where she played basketball and softball for four years, Spears’ hobbies include recreational basketball and volunteering for several national and local non-profit organizations, including Habitat For Humanity and Building A Foundation For Success, an L.A.-based organization whose mission is to make a positive change in the lives of African-American boys.

"I'm one of the luckiest people in the world to be able to mix passion and career, especially in my hometown,” Spears said.

“We are very excited to have Nancy as president of the Sparks,” Goodman said. “Her brand marketing experience will be a great asset as we continue to build the franchise into one of the finest in sports. Equally important, Nancy shares our vision of creating a community among Sparks’ fans.”

The two-time WNBA champion Sparks open their 11th season May 22 at Chicago. Their home opener at STAPLES Center is June 8 vs. Minnesota. For ticket information, call (877) 44-SPARKS.