In front of a roaring crowd of more than 18,000 at Chase Center Friday night, Kelsey Plum wasted no time proving why she was one of the most talked-about offseason acquisitions in the WNBA. Suiting up for the Los Angeles Sparks for the first time, Plum delivered a performance that will be etched in league history—dropping a jaw-dropping 37 points in a season-opening 84–67 win over the Golden State Valkyries.
The veteran guard not only led her team to victory but also etched her name into the record books. Her scoring total marked the highest-ever by a Sparks player in a debut, and it also set a league-wide benchmark for points in a WNBA season opener.
A Night of Firsts and Fearless Play
Plum’s stat line was a masterpiece: 11-of-19 shooting from the field, a perfect 11-for-11 from the line, six assists, and five steals. With those numbers, she became the first player in league history to post at least 35 points, five assists, and five steals in a single game.
“I just wanted to have fun out there,” Kelsey Plum said after the game. “I love the game. I love competing. And we’ve got a really strong group of women on this roster.”
While Plum is no stranger to big moments—having won two championships with the Las Vegas Aces—this was her first time leading a franchise as its undisputed offensive engine. And she embraced the challenge.
New Team, Same Fire
With the Sparks looking to rebound from an underwhelming 2023 campaign, all eyes were on Plum to reinvigorate a stagnant offense. Her arrival marked a shift in both strategy and energy. Gone were the days of hesitancy and poor spacing. On Friday night, the Sparks flowed, moved the ball, and pushed the tempo—largely thanks to Plum’s relentless pace and leadership on the court.
“I learned a lot playing alongside A’ja Wilson in Vegas,” Kelsey Plum said. “Now, it’s about being more intentional—knowing when to attack, when to dish, and how to elevate everyone else’s game.”
Despite her dominant performance, Plum acknowledged she’s still adjusting. “There were stretches where we were disorganized,” she said. “But this is a new system for all of us. The rhythm will come.”
Third-Quarter Surge and Fourth-Quarter Composure
After building a 15-point lead early in the second half, fueled by 15 points from Plum in just a few minutes, the Sparks saw their advantage shrink as the Valkyries answered with a trio of three-pointers. The game briefly teetered toward chaos, but Los Angeles steadied itself behind its defense, holding Golden State to just seven points in the fourth quarter.
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts praised her team’s poise:
“We took a punch and didn’t flinch,” she said. “Winning on the road in this league takes real grit—and tonight we showed that.”
Conditioning and Confidence Pay Off
Plum dedicated her offseason to strength training and improving her endurance, and it showed. She looked unstoppable off the dribble, confident in contact, and locked in for nearly the full 40 minutes.
Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase, who previously coached Kelsey Plum as an assistant in Las Vegas, wasn’t surprised.
“That’s the Plum I know—relentless, fearless, calculated,” Nakase said. “She knows when to attack, when to step back, and how to change the entire flow of a game.”
A Strong Supporting Cast
Though Plum stole the spotlight, she wasn’t alone in the win. Dearica Hamby added 14 points, Rickea Jackson chipped in 13, and Azura Stevens finished with 11. Together, they signaled a promising new era for a Sparks team that desperately needed fresh energy.
For Kelsey Plum, the performance was about more than numbers—it was about stepping into a leadership role, owning the moment, and showing that her move to Los Angeles wasn’t just a headline, but a game-changer.