After struggling over the last week without their superstar guard, Kelsey Plum, the Sparks could get a boost for Friday’s game against the Wings.
Plum was a full participant in practice on Thursday and, in speaking to the media after, sounded like someone set to return from her ankle sprain.
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts also all but confirmed that Plum would be back on Friday.
With the Sparks currently sitting at 4-5 and losing their first Commissioner’s Cup game, getting Plum back would provide a huge injection of offensive production. With Plum out, the Sparks lost to the Sun and the Aces, only scoring a season-low 69 points against Las Vegas.
Plum is currently averaging 26.8 points and 6.3 assists per game. She currently leads the WNBA in scoring at an average that would also be a career high for the ninth-year guard.
That level of play is simply inaccessible to the Sparks when she’s out, so her return is not only welcomed but needed.
It’s no surprise that Plum is back so quickly. The injury was initially expected to keep her out for at least one week, and if she returns for Friday’s game, it would be just a week and a half later.
If the Sparks get Plum back, they could potentially be at full health. Rae Burrell is the other key Spark whose status is still up in the air. She rolled her ankle during the closing seconds of the game against the Aces, and her status is still unknown for Friday’s matchup. She did participate in practice on Thursday, however.
Even if Burrell misses time, getting Plum back is huge and certainly gives Los Angeles the best chance of winning moving forward.
If they can improve and have a strong June, then they’ll set themselves up to be the Western Conference representative for the Commissioner’s Cup title game later this month.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
