The Los Angeles Sparks and Kelsey Plumb’s Impact on the 2026 Season
The Los Angeles Sparks kicked off the 2026 WNBA season hoping that Kelsey Plumb could steer them toward the playoffs.
Unfortunately, they stumbled out of the gate with two losses, first to the Las Vegas Aces and then by nine points to the Indiana Fever. At that point, it really seemed like another year outside the playoffs was looming for the Sparks.
Yet, Los Angeles appears to be turning things around, claiming three wins in their last four outings, largely thanks to Plumb’s stellar performance.
At 31 years old, she’s making quite a statement, averaging 26.8 points and 6.3 assists each game. Her shooting stats are impressive too—58.9 percent overall and nearly 49 percent from beyond the arc. She’s had an unprecedented start, becoming the first player in WNBA history to score at least 25 points in four consecutive games while also maintaining a shooting percentage of 55 percent or better. Currently, she’s the league’s top scorer and among the leaders in assists.
On Saturday night, she put up a remarkable performance, scoring a season-high 38 points (12-for-17 shooting) alongside nine assists in a 101-95 win against her former team, the Aces. Afterward, Sparks head coach Lynn Roberts expressed admiration for Plumb and questioned why she isn’t more recognized in MVP discussions.
“Honestly, I think she deserves more attention in the MVP conversation,” Roberts commented, highlighting that her achievements seem somewhat overlooked.
Perhaps if the Sparks were performing better overall, Plumb would receive the accolades she deserves. Their recent success might just be a sign of things to come.
Did Leaving Las Vegas Benefit Kelsey Plumb?
Plumb made a choice to leave the Aces a year ago, a decision that, at first glance, might have seemed unwise. While the Aces clinched their third title in four seasons, the Sparks missed the playoffs during Plumb’s first year with them.
For Plumb, though, taking on the challenge of revitalizing a struggling team has been rewarding in its own way.
“I really want to contribute to organizational change,” she shared with the Los Angeles Times earlier this month. “You don’t really know how good you are until you’re put in a situation where you might feel a bit out of your depth.”
It’s still early in the season, but the Sparks have managed to win three of their last four games, bringing their record to 3-3—marking the first time they’ve been at .500 this season and putting them in playoff contention.
Of course, Plumb isn’t the sole reason for this turnaround; players like Dearika Hamby (averaging 18.5 points and 8.2 rebounds) and Nneka Ogwumike (with 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds) have also played pivotal roles.
Even former No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink is beginning to contribute more, averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in about 17.5 minutes a game. Other players like Ray Burrell, Ariel Atkins, and Erica Wheeler continue to be significant parts of the rotation as well.
The Sparks have a long way to go before they can truly be labeled championship contenders. Yet, with Kelsey Plumb on their roster, they seem to have a player with the potential to be a franchise cornerstone.
