Overview
- Kelsey Plum scored a career-high 43 points on Saturday night, including a layup with 1.6 seconds left in regulation that tied the game and sent it to overtime.
- Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper countered with a career-best 41 points, making Plum and Copper the first opposing players in WNBA history to each score 40 or more in the same game.
- Los Angeles dominated the extra period, outscoring Phoenix 13-4, with Rae Burrell adding a career-high 24 off the bench and Cameron Brink and Nneka Ogwumike making decisive plays.
- The result moved the Sparks to 7-6 overall and 3-2 in Commissioner's Cup play while the Mercury fell to 4-11 and 2-3 in Cup play, and both teams now turn quickly to matchups at Golden State and versus Las Vegas.
- Plum’s efficient scoring surge this season and her decision to accept a smaller one-year deal to help roster construction have amplified MVP discussion and raised expectations for the Sparks’ playoff prospects.