The Sparks and their star guard are on a tear.
Sparks' Kelsey Plum ties a Caitlin Clark record as Los Angeles keeps sizzling originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Los Angeles Sparks seemed out of options to reach the postseason after winning only six of their first 20 games this season. The malaise stretched so far that even Kelsey Plum, the team's star point guard and a two-time WNBA champion, seemed to fly under the radar.
But ever since a narrow four-point win over the Connecticut Sun on July 13, the Sparks have looked like a different team. Los Angeles has won seven of its past eight games, a stretch that has seen the team welcome Cameron Brink back to the fold following her ACL injury. Now 13-15, the Sparks have the league's attention again -- and Plum is playing as well as she ever has.
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After seven successful seasons with the Las Vegas Aces, Plum opted to move on after 2024 and wound up in Los Angeles as part of the blockbuster Jewell Loyd trade. She wanted to lead her own team, and fans now are seeing what that looks like as the Sparks are playing their best basketball all season.
Plum scored 25 points and dished out 11 assists on Tuesday night as the Sparks powered past the Indiana Fever at Crypto.com Arena. The 100-91 victory put the Sparks within a game of the eighth and final playoff spot -- and saw Plum tie a record that belonged solely to Caitlin Clark, who remains sidelined with a groin injury.
Plum on Tuesday joined Clark as the only players in WNBA history to record at least 20 points and six assists in five consecutive games. In six games since the All-Star break, Plum is averaging 21.7 points and 7.8 assists per game -- while leading the Sparks to a 5-1 record. For the season, Plum ranks third in the league with 20.4 points per game (a career-best) and fourth in assists with 6.2 (also a career-best)
With Plum playing once more at an elite level, Rickea Jackson flashing dominant scoring ability and Brink working her way back into the fold, the Sparks could be as dangerous as anyone down the stretch.
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Category: Basketball
