The Los Angeles Sparks began their season with a frustrating 1-3 start, testing the locker room early. But head coach Lynne Roberts has kept the group focused on building chemistry and establishing an offensive identity.
The turnaround happened quickly, with two consecutive wins over the Phoenix Mercury and the Las Vegas Aces, and the Sparks have climbed back to an even 3-3 record.
However, that hard-earned momentum faced a hiccup on Tuesday afternoon when Kelsey Plum went down with an ankle sprain.
Kelsey Plum’s Offensive Rhythm Halted by Untimely Injury
The Sparks’ front office prioritized bringing Plum back, re-signing the two-time WNBA champion ahead of the 2026 campaign to anchor a loaded roster.
Plum has answered the call so far, performing at an MVP-caliber level through her first six games of the season.
She currently leads the league in scoring by a wide margin, pouring in 26.8 points per contest.
Besides the sheer volume, her efficiency has also been stunning. While averaging a career-best 6.3 assists, Plum is shooting 58.9% from the floor and connecting on 48.8% of her attempts from 3-point range.
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However, this start was derailed on Tuesday when she sprained her ankle during practice, with reports suggesting she will miss at least the next week of action.
ESPN reporter Alexa Philippou provided the initial timeline regarding the medical evaluation and practice incident.
“Breaking: Four-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum suffered an ankle sprain in practice today and will be evaluated in one week. Plum is currently leading the league in scoring at 26.8 PPG,” Philippou posted.
Reactions across social media ranged from absolute panic to guarded optimism, with one user writing, “it’s that supernatural slow step in the paint she always hit i know it.”
“Bad for the sport. Hope she’s ok and avoided anything major,” another user remarked.
“Man! I’m so sorry KP sprained her ankle. She’s been balling big-time! Prayerfully, she gets to the other side of this quickly,” Adrienne Ross wrote.
“Great news! Could’ve been worse. Heal up KP,” Jaime Lardis commented.
With Plum sitting out vs. the Washington Mystics this Friday, the offensive workload will shift to a supporting cast that has been productive in its own right.
Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby have both thrived inside the massive spacing Plum naturally provides.
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Hamby is enjoying a spectacular start to her 2026 campaign and recently dominated the Mercury, recording 27 points and 15 rebounds.
In Plum’s absence, Washington may try to collapse its defense into the paint to test the Sparks’ remaining shooters.
Sparks head coach Roberts will need to devise a different game plan to overwhelm Washington and steal a win before facing the Connecticut Sun on Saturday.
