At least the Sparks have a silver lining.
They won’t get embarrassed on their home court Tuesday.
Just over a week after trading Kelsey Plum to the Mercury on Aug. 1, the Sparks (12-19) will face the five-time all-star’s new team at the Galen Center in a neutral-site matchup, and the two franchises’ last head-to-head of the regular season.
Los Angeles last faced Phoenix on July 22 at Crypto.com Arena – with the Sparks succumbing to their fifth-straight loss, 86-82, amid a would-be six-game skid. The loss moved Los Angeles to 2-9 with Plum injured, sidelined by a lower left-leg injury.
With Phoenix, Plum recorded 20 points in 21 minutes against the Sky on Aug. 3, her first appearance with the Mercury – coming over a month since her last appearance with the Sparks on June 21.
The two-time WNBA champion followed with a 19-point performance in 26 minutes Wednesday against Atlanta and a 25-point showing against Connecticut on Friday before injury, yet again, limited Plum’s contributions Sunday.
Plum did not appear in the second half of the Mercury’s 95-75 loss to the Mystics, playing just 14 minutes before eventually being ruled out with left-calf tightness.
Plum came off the court Sunday after a collision in the first half, but did return to the floor ahead of intermission.
The Mercury (12-22) have yet to report Plum’s status ahead of Tuesday’s contest.
After the Sparks’ four-point loss July 22, coach Lynne Roberts seemed to suggest the result would’ve been different with Plum – who recorded 43 points against the Mercury on June 13 – on the floor.
“We’re going to get KP (Plum) back soon,” Roberts said in July. “That’ll be a boost when you get somebody that can make plays. That’ll help.”
On Sunday, the Sparks trailed the Valkyries by 19 in the fourth quarter before trimming the deficit to one, but ultimately fell 84-78 and moved to 5-13 over their last 18 contests.
“We need to start plays higher,” guard Erica Wheeler said. “In the beginning, she (forward Nneka Ogwumike) barely touched the ball or her shots weren’t going in. And once Nneka’s going and Dearica (Hamby) is going, the game is a little different. … It’s my job to put them in position to score, and that’s what we did. I just wish it happened a little earlier.
The Sparks were also without Monique Akoa Makani on Sunday – the only player they received for Plum, with additional compensation coming in the Mercury’s 2027 first-round pick and 2028 second-round pick.
Los Angeles has yet to announce what Akoa Makani’s status is ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Los Angeles, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020, sits six games back of Dallas for the final spot in the postseason with 13 left to play.
“It’s our job, man,” Wheeler said. “We wake up to play the game that we love. Things happen. Changes happen. At the end of the day, you got to move on from it and lock in on the people that’s right next to you, on the side of you. And that’s what we’ve been doing.”