LOS ANGELES — After a deflating loss to the Golden State Valkyries, the Los Angeles Sparks bounced back in dramatic fashion, edging out the Seattle Storm 94–91 in front of nearly 12,000 fans at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night. The win not only kept the Sparks' playoff hopes alive, but also served as another showcase for Kelsey Plum’s evolution as a dual-threat leader—both scorer and facilitator.
Kelsey Plum has long been known for her scoring prowess, but this season she’s added a new dimension to her game: elite playmaking. Against the Storm, Plum dished out seven assists to go along with her 20 points, continuing a trend that has seen her become one of the WNBA’s most effective distributors.
Plum currently ranks third in the league in assists per game at 6.1, trailing only Alyssa Thomas (9.3) and Courtney Williams (6.3). Since the All-Star break, she’s elevated that mark to nearly seven assists per game, per Basketball Reference, a pace that has coincided with the Sparks winning 10 of their last 13 games.
Plum herself acknowledged the adjustment in her mindset and decision-making as a major point of personal growth. “I’ve always been known as a scorer,” she said postgame, “but I’ve learned that because I can score, I draw attention—and that creates opportunities for others. It’s a balance now. I’m picking my spots, making plays, and learning when it’s better to pass than to force a shot. That’s been huge for me.”
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts has seen Plum’s development firsthand and praised her ability to lead while evolving her role. “When she was in Vegas, she wasn’t the head of the snake,” Roberts said. “Now she’s ‘the guy,’ and she’s embraced it. It’s a learning curve, but she’s shown she’s ready for the responsibility.”
Roberts highlighted Plum’s maturity and basketball IQ, noting how her playmaking not only helps teammates get involved early, but also opens up scoring lanes for herself. “She’s smart, she’s self-aware, and she knows when to flip the switch,” Roberts said. “It’s a continued process, but she’s doing a tremendous job leading us.”
The Sparks and Storm have now met twice this month, and both games have come down to the wire. Seattle came into Sunday’s matchup looking for revenge after losing 108–106 to Los Angeles on August 1. Instead, the Storm found themselves on the wrong side of another nail-biter.
With the game tied in the final seconds, Dearica Hamby delivered the decisive moment, slicing through the defense for a driving layup and drawing a foul with just 0.5 seconds left. She knocked down the and-one free throw, and the Sparks secured a defensive stop on the final possession to seal the win.
Hamby was outstanding with 19 points and the game-winning sequence, one of four Sparks to score in double figures. Azurá Stevens also contributed 19, while rookie standout Cameron Brink added 14 points in just 10 minutes of action.
For Seattle, the loss marks their fifth straight defeat, dropping them to 16–16 on the season—just half a game ahead of the 15–16 Sparks in the crowded Western Conference standings. The Storm are now in danger of slipping out of the playoff picture entirely.
Despite the loss, several Storm players turned in strong performances. Brittney Sykes led all scorers with 27 points, Dominique Malonga posted a double-double off the bench with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and veterans Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike added 17 and 15 points, respectively. Ogwumike also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Still, the team’s inability to close games—particularly in high-stakes matchups like this one—continues to be a concern for head coach Noelle Quinn and her staff.
With just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, every win is critical. For the Sparks, the victory not only builds momentum but reinforces the identity they’ve been crafting: a team anchored by star talent willing to do the little things to win. And at the center of it all is Kelsey Plum, who is proving she can do more than score—she can lead.
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