Well, Kelsey Plum has a little surprise in store for the Las Vegas Aces and their fans: The dynamic guard, long expected to remain part of that organization turned league power just depleted via trade by more Russian embrace than anything else is taking her talents to the City of Angels. The Los Angeles Sparks today announced the acquisition of a multi-year agreement with free agent guard Kelsey Plum, providing an additional backcourt weapon and scoring threat to potentially push them over the edge.
Plum’s exit from the Aces reverberated throughout WNBA world. With the reputation as a hard-worker and clutch performer, she had become one of the most popular players in Las Vegas. This is an extremely bittersweet moment for me as General Manager, Natalie Williams says: Kelsey Plum is a generational talent and one of the hardest working athletes I have ever known. She will be greatly missed — both on and off the court.
The Sparks, meanwhile, are beaming to have Plum on board. “Kelsey has the ability to impact the game in so many facets that it’s hard for us not to bring her back,” Coach Derek Fisher said. Her ability to facilitate scoring, playmaking and leadership will uplift our team. The arrival both gives the Spark an intriguing backcourt dynamic with fellow guard Erica Wheeler that could be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
But first, Plum delivered a heartwarming goodbye speech to her Aces teammates before heading off on the start of her journey toward becoming part of the Sparks. “ANATOM”:// “I am extremely happy to be apart of the Aces. Playing with and for my teammates along side our great coaching staff are what gets me up every morning! Sometimes growth requires change. In doing so, she expressed a desire to continue “chasing that championship” — something that has been elusive for her.
Plum, who is the second-leading scorer for a Las Vegas team that sits in second place atop the WNBA standings will be missed by her teammates. In addition to her All-Star breakthrough, Hall of Fame – and even MVP-caliber year highlighted by a shocking 30-point effort in the mid-season classic. Her incredible range as a three-point shooter and ability to create off the dribble made Plum an absolute terror for opposing defenses.
So while undoubtedly Sparks fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of Plum in a blue and purple jersey, what it more promising is that she dons such threads to begin with. The schedule aligns June 24 with fireworks, the day Kayla McBride plays for Buffalo vs. her old Aces team and L.A. is in town ready to make things really heated. Ask not for whom Plum plays, she girds as the Staples Center fills with a staggered chorus.Populism has long marched on one impossible slogan or another.
Ultimately, Kelsey Plum flipping sides in an already sensational WNBA season just puts the last finishing touch on a work of art. No pressure, as the spotlight will be on her every move when she takes to the court in Los Angeles. The real question is, can Plum take the Sparks to victory or will we see Henry and Co. find a way without their All-Star guard? Time will tell, but one things is for sure: Kelsey Plum’s legacy is far from over.
