SAN FRANCISCO, CA — In a fantastic WNBA season opener, Kelsey Plum delivered a phenomenal performance, scoring 37 points—the most by any Sparks player in their debut. Her outstanding contribution led the Los Angeles Sparks to an 84-67 victory over the Golden State Valkyries. Plum’s remarkable debut also included six assists and five steals, marking her as the first WNBA player to achieve at least 35 points, five assists, and five steals in a single game.
“The mentality for me tonight was just come out and have fun. I love basketball. I love to play basketball. Just compete, and we have a great group,” Plum told the media post-game.
She played all 40 minutes of the game, demonstrating her endurance and dedication to rising to the occasion in the new system instituted by first-year head coach Lynn Roberts.
Plum credited some of her strategic insights and leadership abilities to learning from one of her former teammates.
“I have spent a lot of time learning, particularly from A’ja [Wilson]. Watching her pick her spots and just being intentional about when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive. I don’t think I did a tremendous job balancing, but I’ll continue to get better.“
Taking on a leadership role, especially in the absence of fellow star Cameron Brink, who is recovering from an ACL injury, Plum emphasized the team’s ongoing adjustment to a new offensive strategy.
“This is a new offense for everyone, so we’ve got to be patient,” she said. “We’ve still got to find our rhythm with that. … We’re going to be better at our timing and positioning, getting open. Me getting the ball to post players on time and being efficient with that. That will improve with time, but we’ve got a great group of athletes.“
Alongside Plum, three other Sparks players scored double figures, contributing to the team’s comprehensive victory. Dearica Hamby finished with 14 points, Rickea Jackson scored 13 points, and Azura Stevens contributed with 11 points; as the Sparks move forward, Plum’s performance lays a strong foundation for what promises to be an exciting season.
