LOS Angeles – The Sparks goalkeeper, Kelsey Plum, does not hesitate to share that she is ready for greater presence for a WNBA franchise.
The three -foot triple 8 -inch star, the double WNBA champion and the double American Olympic gold medalist said that it was why she was excited to have a leading role in Los Angeles.
“It was one of the reasons why I saw the coach’s vision for what she wanted to do,” Plum said about the new Lynne Roberts rental. “Also understand that it is not only the offensive but also the culture they change here.
“I wanted a greater opportunity,” continued Plum, who played his first seven seasons in the League for Las Vegas Aces. “I wanted a more important role. I feel like I have a short window in your career to maximize this and that’s why I’m here. ”
This is where New Roberts’ vision for a system of “rhythm and space” comes into play. It is a relatively modern basketball concept, which weaves an analytical approach to spread the soil and allow shooters many opportunities to pull more than 3 points, which can increase offensive efficiency.
Roberts said that players will have a structure but also the freedom to play.
“Did you see me playing?” Plum joked. “I feel like you can answer this question, it is literally who I am. Pace and space. I would describe it as my game. ”
The opening of the season of Friday is on the road against the Golden State Valkyries, the extension team trained by the former star of Marina High and the star of the UCLA and the assistant Clippers Natalie Nakase.
The planned departure range of Sparks is PLUM, goalkeeper Rae Burrell, striker Rickea Jackson and Delerica Hamby and Center Azurá Stevens. Plum is the only newcomer to the starting range of the Sparks.
“We are delighted to have it, its leadership and obviously its ability to play basketball at the high level,” said Hamby, Triple All-Star of the WNBA who helped Aces win a WNBA title alongside Plum in 2022.
“We have a very talented group,” added Plum. “A very hungry group. I think Coach has implemented a lot of new things, but people pick it up very well. ”
Hamby led the Sparks last season with 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game to go with 3.5 assists.
“We are more than a punch 1-2,” said Plum. “We have Rickea and I go down on the line of players who are extremely talented and who are simply put in good positions to succeed.”
Jackson, choice No. 4 of the WNBA 2024 draft, raised an average of 13.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per match as a recruit.
Meanwhile, Cameron Brink, choice n ° 2 of the 2024 draft, continues to rehabilitate her LCA injury, which she suffered in a match against Connecticut Sun in June.
The defensive pillar of 6 feet 4 inches was on average 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 shots blocked in 15 games as a recruit. Her knee will soon be reassessed and she could be allowed to play next month.
“I feel good,” said Brink. “I just take day by day. I am really grateful not to have pressure from the Sparks organization. They do a very good job to support me fully throughout this process. I feel good and I just do it step by step.”
The Sparks have not made the playoffs since 2020, which is a franchise sequence in the middle of four consecutive seasons. They have not won an eliminatory match since 2019.
“I didn’t come here just happy to be here,” said Roberts. “I’m here to win. This is why I am here to do everything I can to put the product on the ground that puts us in a position, do this. ”
Roberts came from the ranks of the college, where she directed Utah for 10 seasons and reached Sweet SixWen in 2023.
“Putting this franchise on the championship is a process,” continued Roberts. “But we want to compete in each game we play.”
The Sparks finished 8-32 last season for the worst League record. This result gave the team the best dimensions to assign the choice n ° 1 in the 2025 draft. However, the lottery ball did not rebound the path of the organization.
The n ° 1 choice would have given Sparks the right to repel the star of the UCONN, Paige Bueckers, who ended up being selected by the Dallas Wings, including the director general, Curt Miller, led the sparks in the last two seasons.
The Sparks received the choice n ° 2, which they finally wrapped in a trade with three teams with the Aces and Seattle Storm to acquire Plum, which collected on average 17.8 points and 4.2 assists on the AS last season.
“Obviously, coming from Vegas, I learned a lot and I chose a lot of experience along the way, but I am who I am,” continued Plum. “I’m not going to change my scratches to say.
In the acquisition of plums, the Sparks also received the choice of recovery n ° 9, which they used to select Sarah Ashlee Barker, a 6 -foot guard from Alabama. Barker said she was impatient to learn veterans like Plum and save significant minutes as a recruit.
“When you have the opportunity to get on the ground and your number is called, you must enter and get the most out of it,” said Barker, who has an average of 18.2 points for the crimson tide last season while firing at 51.4% of the ground and 37.5% on 3 point points. “I think that’s where my state of mind is. If I am called to go to the ground, I have to do the little things. I have to shake up. I have to defend and then if my shots there, I can take it. ”
“What you cannot do as recruit or new player in this league is to wait for your turn,” said Roberts. “You must be aggressive, you must be intrepid because the train will not expect you.”
The Sparks recently renounced the goalkeeper Aari McDonald, at the Masha Kliundikova Center and the Recruit Liatu King striker, before reaching the limit of the 12 players of the opening day.
Opening of the season: sparkles in Golden State
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Or: Chase Center, San Francisco
TV: ION
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
