The Los Angeles Sparks are hoping to rebound following a 2024 WNBA season that saw them finish with the worst record in the league. Cameron Brink's injury return will help LA, while Rickea Jackson has displayed signs of becoming a star. Of course, Dearica Hamby is a reliable veteran leader. Speaking of veteran leaders, the Sparks made the move to acquire Kelsey Plum from the Las Vegas Aces this offseason.
Plum had previously spent her entire career in the Aces' organization. Beginning a new chapter will be difficult, but Plum is ready for the challenge. Los Angeles is looking for her to help lead the team alongside Hamby.
However, Plum is already a two-time WNBA champion and three-time WNBA All-Star, so what more does she need to prove?
Kelsey Plum needs to prove she can find success outside of Las Vegas
Playing alongside the best player in the WNBA in A'ja Wilson consistently gave Plum opportunities to find success. Now that isn't to discredit Plum, as she worked hard to improve and become a star at the WNBA level. The question is whether or not Plum can lead a franchise without the best player in the league on her team.
The 30-year-old endured a down season by her standards in 2024. She recorded her lowest points per game average (17.8) since 2021 (14.8). Nevertheless, Plum still features an All-Star ceiling. In fact, she was still selected to the All-Star team for the third consecutive year during the '24 campaign.
In order to truly lead this Sparks team, though, Plum will need to record numbers similar to her 2022 campaign, when she averaged 20.2 points and 5.1 assists per outing. The guard also finished third in MVP voting in 2022.
Of course, building a winning culture goes beyond statistics. Star players who know how to win championships understand that making their teammates better is the secret to success. Speaking highly of teammates is also of the utmost importance. It will be interesting to see how Kelsey Plum handles the pressure of leading a team in Los Angeles.
The good news for Plum is that Las Vegas is one of the most notable markets in the WNBA, so she will be more than prepared for the bright lights of LA. However, going from a consistent contender to a team that is fresh off an abysmal campaign is going to prove to be challenging for Kelsey Plum.