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3w ago

Kelsey Plum's 43 Powers Sparks to OT Win Then Team Suffers Blowout Loss as Cup Race Tightens

A career night from Plum rescued Los Angeles in Phoenix but a lopsided defeat to Golden State and emerging injuries leave the Western Commissioner's Cup berth unsettled.

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The Valkyries’ Kaila Charles (6) celebrates a 3-pointer in the first half as Golden State plays the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on Monday.
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The Sparks’ Nneka Ogumwike looks for help from a teammate as she is defended by the Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) in the first half of Monday’s game at Chase Center.

Overview

  • Kelsey Plum scored a career-high 43 points to force overtime and lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 111-102 win over the Phoenix Mercury, with Phoenix's Kahleah Copper scoring a career-best 41 in the same game.
  • The Sparks' momentum evaporated in their next game when they lost 78-58 at the Golden State Valkyries, a game in which Plum fouled out and forward Cameron Brink left with an apparent ankle issue.
  • New York clinched the Eastern Conference spot in the Commissioner's Cup after Breanna Stewart's strong defensive showing helped the Liberty beat Washington, leaving the Western representative still undecided.
  • Las Vegas lost 96-66 to the Dallas Wings, ending a six-game run and making the West's Cup race more contested as Las Vegas must win its remaining Cup game to lock up the berth.
  • The Commissioner's Cup uses a short round-robin to name one conference representative for a June 30 final so the remaining preliminary games and players' health and foul status this week will likely decide who faces New York.