The LA Sparks’ three-game winning streak ended Saturday with a 72-59 defeat to the Golden State Valkyries, marked by their lowest scoring output of the season and a difficult night for Kelsey Plum. The Sparks struggled offensively throughout the game, with Plum’s performance notably below her usual standards.
Plum’s Flagrant Foul Incident Draws Social Media Buzz
In the fourth quarter, as tensions grew, Kelsey Plum, while defending Veronica Burton, attempted to kick the ball but inadvertently struck Burton’s shin. This led to a brief verbal exchange before Plum was charged with a flagrant foul. The moment quickly caught the attention of fans on social media, who humorously compared Plum’s action to notorious kicking incidents in basketball.
“Draymond Green would be proud of her,” —fan
“That’s Draymond/Grayson Allen level of dirty,” —fan
One viewer likened Plum’s move to a scene from The Karate Kid, referencing the iconic soccer moment:
“I saw that move in The Karate Kid when Daniel went out for the soccer team. Bobby doing Johnny’s dirty work.” —fan
Challenges on Both Ends for Kelsey Plum and the Sparks
Kelsey Plum, competing in her 264th career game, recorded one of her lowest scoring nights with just four points, coming after a six-game stretch averaging 22.8 points. She went scoreless in the first half, shooting 1-for-9 overall, while also contributing four rebounds and four assists.
The Sparks struggled as a whole, shooting only 32.8% from the field and 23.6% from beyond the arc, with their 59 points marking the lowest of the season by a significant margin. Despite the loss, Dearica Hamby stood out with 15 points on efficient shooting, while Rae Burrell and Julie Allemand each added 10 points.
Golden State Valkyries’ Balanced Attack Propels Victory
The Golden State Valkyries were led by Veronica Burton, who finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Cecilia Zandalasini and Janelle Salaun also contributed noticeably, scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively, helping Golden State build a lead as large as 19 points during the game.
Looking Ahead: Sparks Prepare for Upcoming Home and Road Games
Following this difficult outing, the LA Sparks will return home to face the Seattle Storm on Sunday and the New York Liberty on Tuesday. They will then travel to play the Dallas Wings on Friday and the Washington Mystics next Sunday, aiming to regain their form and improve their offensive consistency moving forward.