EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Jennifer Gillom on Monday was named the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks, a team for which she once played.

Gillom replaces Michael Cooper, who is now head coach of the Southern California women's basketball team.

Gillom spent 2008 as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx and was promoted to interim head coach in June. The 6-foot-3 Gillom averaged 13.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in seven seasons and retired after playing her final season with the Sparks in 2003.

The Sparks finished last season 21-19 after losing to the eventual WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury in the Western Conference finals.

Gillom is charged with leading the team into a new era now that three-time WNBA MVP and nine-time All-Star center Lisa Leslie has retired.