The first quarter of the 2026 WNBA season is finished, and we're also halfway through the Commissioner's Cup. This year's All-Star is just around the corner, and, somehow, that means that the playoffs are not too far away. The end of the season comes with a lot of awards and nods, and the year's WNBA MVP is one of the biggest.
The MVP vote is turned in before the playoffs begin, which means that it's purely based on what happens during the regular season. A'ja Wilson is sure to be in the running again this season after having snagged her fourth MVP award just last year, but she's not the only player who is putting in that level of work.
The Los Angeles Sparks may not be quite where they want to be in the standings yet, but Kelsey Plum is having a strong season and putting up the kind of numbers we haven't seen from her since she was in college. Plum, who is in her second season with Los Angeles, is averaging 26.6 points and 6.9 assists per game and 55.5% from the field. She also scored a career-high 43 points against the Mercury Saturday, pushing her team to a 111-102 win.
Kelsey Plum is giving the Sparks the leadership they need
In addition to her numbers, Plum is fulfilling a crucial role for the Sparks this year: she's fully owning her role as a leader and veteran. MVPs are selected based on a lot of different critera, and on-court performance is only one piece of the puzzle. How a player carries themselves and their teammates through a season matters; how a player maintains momentum and foucs is a big deal.
Plum is demonstrating a patience and resilience that we haven't quite seen up to this point from the 31-year-old. Where she used to rush to take a shot, she's pausing — she's even letting entire quarters go by without making a moment for herself. That's not because she's worried or intimidated, she told reporters in Seattle last week, it's because she's understanding the game in a new way. Plum ended the match with 16 points and seven assists, and the Sparks are currently sitting at 9th in the league with a 7-6 record.
While speaking to reporters in Los Angeles after the Sparks beat the Portland Fire 89-72 on June 7, Plum admitted that numbers are important, but not as important as winning. The team goal is to have a successful season, and that's what she's focused on — and that's a pretty MVP-level quality to have.
Add us as a preferred source on Google