The Los Angeles Sparks entered the 2026 WNBA season hoping Kelsey Plum could elevate the franchise back into playoff contention.
Kelsey Plum is doing exactly what she set out to do
The Los Angeles Sparks guard has been one of the best players in the WNBA in the early days.
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
But, they began the year 0-2, getting crushed by the Las Vegas Aces in the season opener, and following that up with a 9-point loss to the Indiana Fever. For a moment, the Sparks looked destined for another season on the outside of the playoff picture, looking in.
But, winners of 3 of their last 4 games, Los Angeles is beginning to look like a team that could make some noise, and Plum is the driving force behind why.
The 31-year-old is averaging 26.8 points and 6.3 assists per game, while shooting a scorching-hot 58.9% from the field and 48.8% from three-point range. That’s an unprecedented start; Plum is the first player in WNBA history to begin a season with four straight 25-point games while shooting better than 55% from the field. As it currently stands, she’s also the WNBA’s leading scorer, while averaging the fifth-most assists per game in the league.
And, she put together her most dominant offensive performance on Saturday night, exploding for a season-high 38 points (on 12-17 shooting) and 9 assists in a 101-95 win against her former Aces squad. That spurred Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts to praise Plum’s overall play — and wonder why she hasn’t received more widespread recognition.
“I personally don’t think she gets talked about enough in the best player conversations, those MVP conversations,” Roberts said after. “For whatever reason, she doesn’t get talked about enough, and it’s kind of an injustice.”
In truth, Plum would likely be in those conversations if the Sparks were a more winning team. And, if the last few games are any indication, they could be headed there.
Has leaving Las Vegas paid off for Kelsey Plum?
Plum made the decision to leave the Aces a year ago. On paper, that decision may have looked like a mistake in the short-term; the Aces went on to win their third title in four seasons, while Plum’s Sparks missed postseason action in her first year at the helm.
But, for Plum herself, the challenge of elevating a struggling organization was a pursuit in and of itself, a challenge she’d find personally gratifying.
“I want to really help transform an organization,” she told the Los Angeles Times earlier this month. “You don’t really know how good you are… until put in a situation that’s maybe a little over your head.”
It’s still early days, but the Sparks are winners of 3 of their last 4 games. Owners of a 3-3 record, they’re .500 for the first time this season, and back in the mix for playoff contention.
Plum, of course, is not the only reason the Sparks have won 3 of their last 4 games. Dearica Hamby (18.5 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Nneka Ogwumike (15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds) have both been key contributors.
Former No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink has begun to find her footing; she’s averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 17.5 minutes per game. Players like Rae Burrell, Ariel Atkins, and Erica Wheeler have all been key contributors in the rotation.
The Sparks are likely a few pieces away from becoming true championship contenders. But in Kelsey Plum, they have a franchise player as good as any.
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