LOS ANGELES— When the Los Angeles Sparks acquired three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum, the franchise didn’t perceive a 3-7 start one quarter of the way through the season.
The 2024 Sparks were about building a future contender around two lottery picks–Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. The 2025 Sparks had more immediate aspirations in mind when trading the second overall pick for Plum, who’s dazzling guard play was meant to bring consistent winning back to one of the W’s most storied franchises.
General Manager Raegan Pebley said “we’re pushing our chips in” by acquiring the two-time WNBA champion, adding that “All roads pointed to Kelsey” in a statement shortly after the trade in February.
First year head coach Lynne Roberts said repeatedly that her expectations were to win, and that her vision of the 2025 Sparks was that of a playoff team, but also that everything was new. “Teaching a whole new system, all the things…it takes time.” Roberts said at April’s media day.
With one quarter of the season finished, the Sparks are under .500, and though players have echoed Robert’s statements about patience, Plum couldn’t help but let her frustrations peak when discussing foul calls after a crushing 89-81 overtime defeat against the Golden State Valkyries on Monday.
“It’s (expletive) absurd!” an emotional Plum said during the post game press conference at Crypto.com Arena.
“I needed to make more shots late game but they’re fouling the (expletive) out of me every single play,” she continued, “I’m very frustrated with that. And I’m sick of it! I’m sick of it! I don’t know what I need to do. I talk to the refs nice, I pray before every game but, like, (expletive), I’m over it.”
Coach Roberts supported Plum, who sported a long cut on her right cheek.
The Sparks last won a championship in 2016, and are coming off the worst season in franchise history, finishing a league-worst 8-32.
By the second half of last season, the mood in some postgame press conferences was light-hearted even after losses, with the understanding that the franchise was rebuilding. The mood this year has felt much more intense, aided by Plum’s passion.
“I’ve been on a mission since I came out the womb,” Plum told reporters have the Sparks first home victory against the Chicago Sky on May 25, saying that she “doesn’t give a damn about the points, I want to win.”
The Sparks offensive firepower makes this disappointing start even more puzzling.Plum and Center Dearica Hamby are the top scoring duo in the WNBA as of June 9th, averaging nearly 40 points per game. The team is currently top five in points, assists, and steals per game.
But the issues have come in the trenches, as the Sparks are in the bottom half of the league in rebounding percentage and defensive rating.
The Golden State Valkyries out-rebounded the Sparks 49-34 on Monday night, including 17-6 on offensive boards.
The Sparks have also been hit with multiple injuries, including to Brink, Jackson, and third year wing Rae Burrell, forcing the team to apply for a hardship contract to sign to waived third round pick Liatu King.
With seven of the next ten games on the road, the Sparks journey to the playoffs looks even more daunting. L.A. hopes to get Burrell and Brink back in action before July’s All-Star break, and Roberts hopes to continue to build chemistry with the team as they learn her coaching system. Though the first quarter of the season is over, there’s a lot of basketball left to be played.
“It’s a marathon not a sprint,” Roberts said pregame Monday. “Let’s build on success and continue to focus on the things we’ve got to improve on.”
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