The Los Angeles Sparks are going to be without their star guard for a while longer. Kelsey Plum has a lower left leg injury, and the team announced she won’t be reevaluated for at least four weeks.
That timeline puts her return somewhere around July 22, which means the four-time All-Star will miss a minimum of 10 games. The Sparks have already played four games without her this season when she was dealing with an ankle issue in late May and early June. This is a different injury entirely.
The timing couldn’t be worse
Plum missed those four games earlier, then came back and helped L.A. grind out a 98-97 win over the New York Liberty on June 21. That win gave fans some hope. But now she’s out again, and the team has to figure out how to stay competitive without its leading scorer.
The Sparks posted the update on their official X account, saying Plum has a lower left leg injury and will be reevaluated in four weeks. No further details on the specific nature of the injury have been released. The team has not confirmed whether it’s a strain, a stress reaction, or something else entirely.
Plum is averaging 18.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds this season. She’s the engine of the offense, and losing her for this long puts serious pressure on the rest of the roster. The Sparks are already near the bottom of the standings, and this stretch could decide whether they’re fighting for a playoff spot or playing for next year.
What’s next for L.A.
The Sparks have a back-to-back coming up against the Connecticut Sun and the Las Vegas Aces. Those are two of the best teams in the league. Without Plum, the margin for error is basically zero.
This is a developing story. We’ll update this post as more information becomes available.
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