WNBA Notebook: “The essence of Kelsey Plum” contagious for L.A. Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum lays in two of her 28 points during a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky on May 25, 2025. Through five games, Plum ranks second with 24.8 points and is averaging a league-high 3.8 3-pointers per game. PHOTO: Robert Talamantes, The Sporting Tribune
By W.G. RAMIREZ
The essence of Kelsey Plum.
That’s how Los Angeles Sparks coach Lynne Roberts describes what we’re seeing and hearing from the two-time WNBA champion through the first two weeks of the WNBA season.
It's a short sample size - five games into a 44-game schedule, which is all of 11% of the season - but the 30-year-old from Poway, California, is off to a career start and what the Sparks PR department may want to start campaigning as an MVP season.
After her 28-point performance in Sunday's 91-78 win over the Chicago Sky, the 5-foot-9 guard out of Washington ranks second in the league with 24.8 points per game while averaging a league- and career-high 3.8 3-pointers per game.
"She plays with joy," said Roberts, whose first two years as coach at Utah were Plum's last two at U-Dub. "She loves to play the game, and she's like a kid in a candy store on game day, and that's contagious."
Plum also likes to win, which is why it was probably a mistake to ask her about the best start to her career, that being the most points she's ever scored through the first five games of a season.
"I don't give a damn about the points, I'm here to win," Plum said to question from WGRamirez.com. "I've been on a mission since I came out the womb."
Call it the "dawg mentality" her fans have come to love - and bark for - when it comes to one of the world's best guards.
The Sparks haven't started the way Roberts, Plum and the rest of the team would have liked, at 2-3 and in ninth place in the league, one-half game back of the Las Vegas Aces.
After hosting the Dream on Tuesday, the Sparks visit Las Vegas on Friday, when Plum makes her return to an arena where she was adored for six seasons.
Her 5.6 assists per game rank sixth in the league among all guards, while her 2.4 steals per contest are the third-highest among all guards.
Plum knows the Sparks’ potential once they become healthy, as they're currently missing Cameron Brink, Rae Burrell and Rickea Jackson.
"I really want to win," Plum said. "I know this system asks a lot from me in terms of creating, but then also trying to score and finding that balance. And it's not easy, right? I'm not going to get it right all the time. You know, it is what it is, and you know you're just in a different position of being asked a whole (lot) more responsibility."
Said Roberts: "What you just heard, that's her - the essence of Kelsey Plum.
"It's fun to be around, and it's fun to coach. But she's not happy when things aren't going well, and that's contagious, too. But I've always been a fan, and now I get to work alongside her and hopefully chase down some things here with the Sparks."
LIBERTY TREYS: The defending champion New York Liberty were deadly from long range in a 99-74 rout of the Sky, hitting a WNBA record 19 3-pointers. The Liberty broke their single-game record for 3-pointers made from last season in Phoenix, where they made 18. There have been six occasions where a team made 18 treys in a game. Interestingly, of the top seven 3-point performances, five were made by a team playing away from home, four on the road and one on a neutral court in 2020 during the COVID season.
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO: Only two teams remain unbeaten, last year's WNBA finalists, the Minnesota Lynx (4-0) and New York Liberty (3-0). For those hoping for a clash of unbeatens, it'll be a minute before we see the rematch of last year's epic five-game series, as the two don't meet until July 30. The Lynx would have to start 27-0 and Liberty would have to be 25-0 for the teams to face one another in an undefeated duel. The Lynx and Liberty will play one another four times over three weeks, including thrice over 10 days in August.
ONE OF FIVE: Only five of the league's 13 teams have one loss or less heading into the week, including the expansion Golden State Valkyries (2-1). The first-year franchise has won two straight since opening the season with an 84-67 home loss to the Sparks. The Valkyries followed with a 76-74 home win over the previously unbeaten Washington Mystics, and then exacted revenge on the Sparks in Los Angeles with an 82-73 victory. Five players are averaging double digits for the Valkyries.
RAGING STORM: Since getting burned in Phoenix in their season opener, an 81-59 defeat to the Mercury, the Seattle Storm have reeled off three straight wins, including Sunday's 102-82 demolition of the Aces. The Storm have the second-best scoring defense heading into the week, allowing just 76.0 points per game.
"I’m very proud of this group to come out with the energy and the focus," Seattle coach Noelle Quinn said. "To have a 34-point quarter wasn’t just the offense. It was the defense and igniting the crowd and the energy it creates. The thing I’m proud of is we didn’t taper off. We were commanding from the beginning."
CLARK OUT: Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will miss at least two weeks after suffering a left quadriceps strain, the team announced Monday. The team said it will provide updates as they become available, following a re-evaluation of the second-year phenom. Clark, who leads the league with 9.3 assists per game, is also averaging 19.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
STILL WINLESS: Sitting in the WNBA cellar are the Sky (0-3), Dallas Wings (0-4) and Connecticut Sun (0-4). All three rank at the bottom of the scoring defense department, as the Sun are allowing 83 ppg., the Wings are giving up 86.5 ppg., and the Sky are the only team allowing more than 90 ppg. (94.3). Connecticut has the worst scoring offense, as the only team not averaging at least 70 ppg. (68.0). The Sky are scoring exactly 70.0 ppg., while the Wings are ninth in the league with 77.8 ppg.
ROOKIE WATCH: Through the first four games of her career, rookie Paige Bueckers is averaging 13.0 ppg. for the Wings, while dishing 6.3 assists and grabbing 4.3 rebounds. She's also snatching 1.8 steals per contest. Washington's first-year duo of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen continue to impress, as they're averaging a league-best 15.4 points and third-highest 13.8 points, respectively, among all rookies. Iriafen leads the Class of 2025 with 11.2 rebounds per game.
ATLANTA NIGHTMARE: The Dream could be in for a nightmarish week, as their strong start to the season could be in trouble due to injuries. Already battling multiple injuries, the team missed Brittney Griner for Sunday's 79-55 win over Connecticut Sun. At 3-2 heading into the week, the Dream could be without Jordin Canada (right knee), Te-Hina Paopao (facial injury) and Griner (left knee). The Dream travel to Los Angeles (Tuesday) and Seattle (Friday) before having a week before visiting Connecticut on June 6.
UPDATED ODDS: After Sunday's games, the odds at the Westgate Superbook were updated with the defending champion Liberty (7/4) favored to win it, followed by the Lynx (3/1), Fever (13/4) and Aces (13/2). The next closest are the Mercury (18/1), Storm (20/1) and Dream (50/1). From there, most are extended longshots at 100-to-1 or higher: Sparks (100/1), Wings (100/1) Mystics (150/1), Sky (200/1), Valkyries (500/1) and Sun (1000/1).
POWER RANKINGS: The weekly WGRamirez.com power rankings arrive every Tuesday, one day after the weekly notebook. Part of the notebook teases the first half of the rankings, giving you a peek at the top six teams (with their current record and last week’s ranking in parentheses).
1. Liberty (3-0) - As I said last week, until someone proves them otherwise, the defending champs remain the best team in the WNBA. (LW: 1)
2. Lynx (4-0) - That said, if the Lynx dominate this week and the Liberty are just getting by, as we saw in Indianapolis, there could be a power shift. (LW: 2)
3. Storm (3-1) - Up from No. 7, it's going to be hard to argue with me about this defense and how dominant it could be with the players Quinn has in place. (LW: 7)
4. Mercury (3-1) - The most impressive thing aside from this team's defensive sting is how it continues to win short-handed. Sure, Alyssa Thomas is doing what she always does - The Engine is always running - but this team gets even better with the return of Kahleah Copper. (LW: 5)
5. Aces (2-2) - Dropping this team from third, and it might even be sixth if it didn't boast the best player in the world and face of the league, A'ja Wilson. Las Vegas has a week to prepare for and find its offense before scrappy Los Angeles arrives with the Plum Dawg. (LW: 3)
6. Fever (2-2) - After their season-opening win, the Fever are 1-2. True, they're only a couple of possessions away from being 4-0. But coulda, shoulda, woulda's don't win basketball games. Teams that figure out how to win, are the ones that win playoff games. (LW: 4)
