Veteran guard Kelsey Plum reminded the WNBA why she was a key piece of the Las Vegas Aces back-to-back champions in 2022 and 2023.
The 4-times All-Star was traded from Las Vegas to Los Angeles Sparks on February 1, and since then, Plum has delivered big time for the California team.
The 5’8, 145 pounds baller is currently third on scoring, averaging 20.4 points on 35.5 minutes per game, just behind former teammate A’ja Wilson and Minnesota Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier. With a healthy Cameron Brink for the remainder of the season, the Sparks hope that the duo can take them to the playoffs.
Plum spoils Bueckers historic night
Kelsey Plum ruined rookie Paige Bueckers‘ historic night as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Dallas Wings 81-80 at Crypto.com Arena with a spectacular play that the veteran guard performed with just a few seconds left on the clock.
Bueckers set a WNBA rookie record for points in a game with 44, but the Wings came up just shy against the Sparks. With 3.3 seconds to play and the Sparks trailing by one, Plum lowered her shoulder and slipped between swiping arms and lunging bodies.
One defender stumbled, another bit on a fake and Plum glided almost untouched into the lane, kissing a floater off the glass as the horn sounded in an 81-80 Sparks escape over the Wings. With the loss, Dallas falls to 9-27 on the year while LA improves to 17-18. Meanwhile, Bueckers became the first player in league history to score 40+ points while shooting at least 80% from the field.
An ascending Sparks team
Behind a stretch of eight wins in a nine-game span, the Los Angeles Sparks ascended the standings and the WNBA power rankings over the past few weeks. That has a lot to do with the way guard Kelsey Plum is playing, the main reason why the California team traded for her.
However, since that hot streak, the Sparks have dropped three of their last five games, falling into a three-way tie with Seattle and Washington with 18 losses each as the three teams sit between eighth and 10th in the standings – all eyeing a playoff spot.
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