San Francisco – While 18,064 fans dressed in purple shirts filled the Chase Center, opening the Golden State Valkyries season the second highest start at home in the history of the WNBA, Kelsey Plum made a little history in his first match in a uniform Los Angeles Sparks.
Plum scored 37 points, the most by a Sparks player in his beginnings and the most by any WNBA player in an opening match of the season in an 84-67 victory. Her six assists and five interceptions also made her the first WNBA player with a match of at least 35 points, 5 assists and 5 interceptions.
“The mentality for me this evening was really to go out and have fun,” said Plum, who drew 11 out of 19 on the field and 11 out of 11 from the Launche francs. “I love basketball. I love playing basketball.
For a large part of his career, Plum has played alongside offensive producers of all time such as the MVP A’ja Wilson quarter during his passing of six seasons with the Las Vegas Aces. But when Plum arrived in Los Angeles during the offseason, she instantly became option n ° 1 of the team.
The Sparks hoped that it would help relaunch a stagnant offense that caused them so many problems last season. They lacked sufficient and coherent score, as well as a floor general who could reliably pass to low players, like Delerica Hamby.
“I spent a lot of time learning, especially from A’JA,” said Plum. “Watching her choose her spots and be just intentional about the moment of being aggressive, when not being aggressive. I don’t think I have done a huge balance, but I will continue to get better.”
Plum has passed the offseason to focus on its strength and packaging. She had the goal of being able to play 40 minutes with a rhythm and work in contact – which she did on Friday evening.
“It is the Kelsey to which I am used to,” said Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, who was assistant coach of the Aces in 2022-24. “She was able to go to her left, something we talked about … But she is intrepid. She wants to enter the painting. Otherwise, she wants an et-1. Otherwise, she plays two feet, where she arrives at a step 3. It is the kelsey that I know.”
Los Angeles began the second half on a 20-8 race, fed by 15 plum points, to build a 15-point lead. But three points consecutive 3 points from the Valkyries Julie Vanloo saw this advance reduced to six points at the end of the third quarter.
It was during this section that the offensive of the Sparks was rushed and became “ruffled,” said Plum, stressing that there is room for growth.
“This is a new offense for everyone, so we have to be patient,” said Plum. “We must always find our rhythm with that. … We will be better at our timing and our positioning, to open up. I put the ball to display players in time and to be effective with that. It is better over time, but we have a large group of athletes.”
The fourth quarter was much slower and furious, but saw L. slowly take control of his defense and holding Golden State at seven points.
“I am incredibly proud of the ability of this team to punch and not panic,” said Sparks coach Lynne Roberts. “Especially win on the road, you must have this mentality. … We responded to the bell. It shows mental tenacity.”
Plum was one of the four Sparks players to score two digits, alongside Hamby with 14, Rickea Jackson with 13 and Azura Stevens with 11.
