It was shortly after the Connecticut Sun had lost the penultimate Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Sept. 18 when head coach and general Curt Miller was asked about what the franchise needed to do during the offseason to finally win an elusive world championship.

“I haven't thought about the off-season yet,” Miller said. “The off-season happened about 20 minutes ago.”

Whatever the future holds for Connecticut won’t include Miller as he was hired to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks, the latter announced Friday afternoon.

“We are very grateful for the time Curt spent in Connecticut building the organization into a championship level team over the past seven years,” Sun president Jen Rizzotti said in a statement. “Curt and I have had multiple conversations about the future over the past few weeks. As his friend, I wanted to be supportive of the fact that he could be ready for a change.

“On behalf of the Connecticut Sun I want to thank him for his commitment to the organization and for the level of sustained success he has achieved. As I look to the future, I know we have all the pieces in place to be a championship contender again next year. We look forward to finding the right person to lead our team.”

Connecticut hired Miller in Dec. 2015 and, over seven seasons, he helped rebuild the franchise after it had fallen on hard times. He had a regular-season record of 140-86 over seven seasons, the fifth winningest coach in WNBA history by winning percentage and coached the Sun to six straight playoff appearances as well as berths in the 2019 and 2022 WNBA Finals.

Miller took over as general manager in 2016. He is a two-time WNBA Coach of the Year winner (2017, 2021) and was the 2017 Executive of the Year.

“I want to thank [Los Angeles managing partner] Eric Holoman and the entire Sparks ownership group for the opportunity to coach one of the iconic teams in women’s professional sports,” Miller said in a statement. “The Los Angeles Sparks have a history of winning championships in front of one of the most passionate fan bases in sports, and it’s an honor to be named Sparks head coach.

“I’m ready to work alongside our owners, players, and the entire organization to help build a team that will compete for WNBA championships and make our fans and partners proud. It’s a privilege to hold this position, and I’m committed to adding to the incredible basketball legacy of this city and franchise.”

Miller’s departure comes at a time in which the Sun’s odds at winning a WNBA title together were narrowing, something both he and the players talked about this past season.

Connecticut has only six players under contract — starters DeWanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones and Alyssa and Jasmine Thomas — as well as reserves DiJonai Carrington and Nia Clouden.

It’s highly unlikely that the Sun can resign all their players headed into free agency because of a lack of cap space. Their three most notable free agents are center-guard Natisha Hiedeman, center Brionna Jones and guard Courtney Williams.

n.griffen@theday.com