Data Scientist, Basketball Operations

The 3-time WNBA Champions Los Angeles Sparks are seeking a Data Scientist to help elevate the team’s competitive decision-making through statistical modeling, automated reporting, and data-driven insights. This role works closely with coaches, scouts, performance staff, and front-office leadership to deliver actionable analysis that supports coaching, player evaluation, roster construction, and player development. The ideal candidate is a strong quantitative thinker with basketball domain knowledge, experience working with complex datasets, and the ability to turn data into clear, impactful insights used in realistic basketball solutions. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Applied Basketball Analytics

• Develop predictive models to support player evaluation, lineup optimization, scouting, in-game strategy, and roster management.
• Analyze player tracking data, play-by-play, and event-level datasets to uncover performance trends and competitive advantages.
• Design analytical reports, visualizations, and tools used by coaches, scouts, and front-office staff.

Modeling & Statistical Research

• Build and validate models for player evaluation, player development, skill-specific growth, and opponent scouting.
• Conduct research on new basketball metrics and methodologies that enhance internal evaluations.
• Maintain reproducible research workflows and documentation.

Data Integration & Engineering Collaboration

• Partner with the Data Engineering team to define data needs, improve infrastructure, and ensure reliable, well-structured datasets for analytics.
• Build features, transformations, and metrics for use in models and internal reports.
• Integrate league providers (Second Spectrum, Synergy, etc.) into an internal data synthesis and reporting structure.
• Assist in software development related to data science work produced by the R&D team.

Cross-Functional Impact

• Prepare clear, concise explanations of analytical findings for scouts, leadership, and coaches.
• Support the main decision making periods needed throughout the season (Free Agency, Draft, and Staffing).
• Work collaboratively across Basketball Operations to create a data-driven environment.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field preferred.

Work Experience

• 2+ years of professional experience in data science or related fields.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong proficiency in R or Python and SQL.
• Experience building statistical or machine learning models on real-world datasets.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, accessible insights for non-technical audiences.
• Experience building data viz (ggplot2, grobblR, Plotly, Shiny, Dash, etc.)
• Passion for basketball analytics and familiarity with modern metrics and concepts.
• Ability to work flexible hours during the WNBA season.

Preferred

• Experience with basketball-specific data sources such as tracking data, video logs, or advanced play-by-play.
• Familiarity with cloud analytics environments (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Knowledge of Bayesian modeling, optimization techniques, or time-series forecasting.
• Familiarity with building or maintaining ETL pipelines.
• Familiarity with software engineering tools.
• Prior experience working in professional or collegiate sports analytics.

Compensation commensurate with experience; Salary Range: $110,000 - $130,000 This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. It is not intended to give all details or a step-by-step account of the way each procedure or task is performed. The incumbent is expected to perform other duties necessary for the effective operation of the department.