Unrivaled proved again that there is only one right path forward for Sparks

When the Sparks traded for Kelsey Plum, they got a championship veteran looking for a chance to lead her own team to the highest level. So, it’s no secret that the Sparks absolutely have to build a championship contender around Plum. Anything else would be a massive failure on their part. 

Unrivaled really drove home that simple fact by giving Plum the stage to lead a team to the ultimate success. 

Plum led the Phantom to the Unrivaled finals

After missing the playoffs last season, Phantom BC quickly established itself as one of the best clubs in Unrivaled. The acquisitions of Kelsey Plum and Aliyah Boston really turned around the team’s fortunes. 

Even when Boston went down with an injury that forced her to miss the playoffs, the team was unstoppable. Kiki Iriafen stepped up big-time in her first postseason action as a pro, recording 17 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in just under 16 minutes. 

Tiffany Hayes and Natasha Cloud also did their parts in the Phantom’s semifinals win over the Vinyl, but Plum was the star of the show. She scored 31 points on 12-19 shooting and added six rebounds and six assists. 

Plum will undoubtedly also put together a great game in the finals against the Mist, no matter the outcome. 

The Sparks were far from looking like a contender last season

Adding Plum to the core of Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson didn’t immediately turn the Sparks into a contender—or even a playoff team. 

Despite an impressive push, the Sparks finished ninth, two games behind the Valkyries for the final playoff spot. The disappointment of missing the playoffs didn’t stop Plum and Hamby from sharing a positive outlook for the team’s future.

The Sparks have a lot to do this offseason. They have to re-sign Plum and Hamby and figure out a way to improve the team’s defense. The Sparks were solid offensively, but finished tenth in defensive rating, which made it impossible to keep up with the best teams in the league. Cameron Brink’s return from an ACL tear she suffered as a rookie helped but it wasn’t quite enough. Of course, Brink should look even better defensively now that she’s had more time to recover and played in Unrivaled. Nevertheless, the Sparks can’t just rely on Brink defensively. 

Missing the playoffs for a second straight season or flaming out early when Plum is obviously well-prepared to lead a team to postseason success would be a massive disappointment.