“Mission Over Stats”: Kelsey Plum Leads Sparks to First Home Win Amid Pressure and Doubt

Dearica Hamby, Azurâ Stevens, Sarah Ashlee Barker and Jullie Allemand surround Kelsey Plum after she was hit in the face on a foul. Photo by Jackie Rae

Heading into Sunday's home game against the Chicago Sky, the Los Angeles Sparks faced a looming question: How will this season be different from the last five?

The Sparks haven't made the playoffs since 2020, when they were eliminated in the second round by the Connecticut Sun. Since then, they've failed to win even half of their regular-season games—culminating in the worst finish in franchise history last season with a record of 8–32.

It would be easy to tell Sparks fans not to panic after three straight losses—that it’s still early. But the truth is, fans have seen this story too many times before.

Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts opens up about Sarah Ashlee Barker’s drive to succeed—and how that pressure can sometimes backfire. Video by Jackie Rae

On Friday, the Sparks fell to the youngest team in the league, the Golden State Valkyries—the same team that gave them their first win of the season, thanks to Kelsey Plum’s 37-point explosion.

As for the Chicago Sky, they came into Sunday’s matchup still searching for their first win. And though she might never admit it, it seems the mental and emotional weight of the racially charged and misogynistic rhetoric hurled at her by fans, washed-up quarterbacks, and media figures is beginning to weigh heavily on Angel Reese and impact her performance.

That weight was on full display at Crypto.com Arena, where the Sparks dominated nearly the entire game. Kelsey Plum went 5-of-6 from three in the third quarter, fueling a 9–0 run. She racked up 24 points by the end of the quarter, giving the Sparks a commanding 76–64 lead.

Midway through the fourth, a familiar scene emerged: the Sky, clearly frustrated, began making costly mistakes. Chicago finished with 17 turnovers and shot just 20% from beyond the arc, compared to the Sparks' 48%.

Reese finished with a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds - going 5-11 from the field and 0-1 from three. Despite the loss, Reese feels like it is just a matter of time before the Sky starts to see success. "We have great vets," she said.

"We're not happy, obviously. We're not satisfied at all, and we're hungry for a win," she said.

That dominance carried the Sparks to their first home win of the season, an 88–78 victory. Kelsey Plum led the way with 28 points and eight assists, but for her, it's never about the stat sheet.

“I've been on a mission since I came out the womb,” she said postgame. “I don't give a damn about points. I want to win.”

Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said the win is great, but the team still has to look forward to Tuesday's game against Atlanta. She emphasized that the team has to turn the page after every game—win or lose. She also praised Plum's infectious energy.

“She plays with joy,” Roberts said. “She’s like a kid in a candy store on game day—and that’s contagious.”

Hopefully, winning will be contagious, too. The Sparks return to Crypto Arena on Tuesday to face the Atlanta Dream.