The Los Angeles Sparks bolstered their playoff hopes with a decisive 91-77 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
With the postseason race tightening, every win counts, and the Sparks delivered through strong performances across the board.
Five starters, Julie Allemand, Kelsey Plum, Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, and Azura Stevens, all reached double figures, fueling a fourth-quarter surge that put the game out of reach for Dallas.
Allemand led the team with 21 points and four assists, while Hamby contributed 15 points and Stevens added 13.
Plum, the Sparks‘ two-time WNBA champion, scored 12 points in 24 minutes, providing key scoring when the team needed it most.
Paige Bueckers, the Wings‘ standout rookie, spearheaded Dallas‘ attack with 18 points and seven assists, though it fell short of her career-high 44-point performance in their last meeting on August 20.
While her offensive efforts kept Dallas competitive early, the Sparks‘ cohesion and timely shooting proved decisive in the second half.
However, it was these very efforts that translated into a physical altercation, causing widespread controversy amongst fans watching.
Bueckers’ physical altercation with Plum
Bueckers ended up shoving Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum during a heated moment in the third quarter.
Though Dallas has already been eliminated from playoff contention, Bueckers‘ competitive spirit was evident in a game that saw frustration boil over.
The incident occurred just seconds into the third quarter. Bueckers drove aggressively into the paint, attempting a shot over three Sparks defenders.
When no foul was called, the 2025 WNBA All-Star candidate visibly expressed her displeasure, glancing toward the referee.
In the brief moment of distraction, Bueckers collided with Plum and, in an emotional reaction, pushed her away.
Both players quickly returned to the action, treating the encounter as a minor blip in a fast-paced game.
The incident was caught on camera and quickly spread across social media, sparking countless reactions from fans and analysts alike.
This encounter between Plum and Bueckers echoes an earlier moment from June, nearly three months ago, when the rookie and the veteran shared a memorable interaction in Dallas.
At that time, Bueckers, then recovering from an injury, engaged in a lighthearted exchange with Plum that ended with a pointed gesture toward the court, a playful jab at the Sparks star.
“You heard it. I’ll remember this day, I’ll remember this day,” Plum said to the camera after Sunday’s game, reflecting on both the on-court push and the history with the rookie.
“Rookies talking s— is crazy. Your rookies are built different here,” she added with a laugh, acknowledging Bueckers’ fearlessness despite her inexperience.
Despite the push incident, the Sparks maintained focus on the scoreboard. The team’s balanced offensive attack, coupled with strong defensive rotations, allowed them to pull away in the final quarter.
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