Sparks' Kelsey Plum Bashes WNBA Refs in Wild Postgame Interview
Despite yet another career night from star guard Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles wasn't able to pull out a win on Monday night. The Sparks fell in overtime, 89-81, on the Crypto.com Arena hardwood — their fourth loss in the last five contests.
Plum went 3-for-4 on three-point attempts and logged a team-high four assists — later reaching the 1,000 career assist mark — through the first two frames alone.
Read more: Sparks' Kelsey Plum Shocked After Wild Exchange With Paige Bueckers
She finished with 24 points and seven assists in a season-high 41 minutes.
A majority of her scoring looks came from the field. Despite constant drives to the rim, Plum was awarded just six free throw attempts — all of which she converted on.
The two-time WNBA champion's 5.6 free throws attempted per game rate in 2025 marks the fewest among the league's 20-plus point per game scorers.
Kelsey Plum bashes the refs postgame after LA’s overtime loss to Golden State.
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) June 10, 2025
“I’m going to get fined for saying this … they were fouling the s—- out of me,” she said. pic.twitter.com/mzyf6D5pCk
Plum was brutally honest in Monday night's press conference following the defeat. The star guard, in an increasingly emotional statement, bashed the WNBA officials for their lack of apparent foul calls in favor of her and other Sparks' players thus far this season.
"I drive more than anyone in the league, so to shoot six free throws is f—ing absurd," Plum said. "I’m going to get fined for saying this … they were fouling the s—- out of me every single play. I'm sick of it.
Kelsey Plum can’t convert on a potential game-winning layup as time expires.
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) June 10, 2025
Sparks and Valkyries headed to overtime in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/65nBX8Udf5
Read more: Sparks' Guard Scores Season-High in Loss to Mercury
"And I got scratches on my face, I've got scratches on my body and these guards on these other team get these ticky tack fouls and I'm sick of it. I get fouled like that every possession," she continued. "They don’t call it. … Six free throws, and I’m playing 40 minutes, touching the paint almost every play. It’s absurd.”
Golden State’s Kayla Thornton with a clutch 25-foot overtime jumper to cement a final Valkyries’ lead.
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) June 10, 2025
Kelsey Plum fouls out and the Sparks fall, 89-81, in overtime in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/V4288B19my
The emotionally charged rant against the league refs — preceded with an acknowledgement of a potential fine — was capped with this statement:
"I'm very frustrated with that, I'm sick of it ... I don't know what I need to do — I talk to the refs nice, I pray before the game. Like f---, I'm over it," Plum said.
More Sparks news:
A'ja Wilson Speaks Out on Losing Kelsey Plum to Sparks
Sparks' Kelsey Plum Reacts to Georgia Amoore's ACL Injury
International Legend Reveals Reason For Rejoining LA
Sparks Waive Two Players Ahead of 2025 Season
Sparks’ Cameron Brink Revisits Feeling After Tearing ACL
For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Sparks, visit Los Angeles Sparks on SI.
Ben Geffner is an award-winning sports journalist and current student at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. A greater Los Angeles native now with countless years of extensive and dedicated experience — including beat reporting, writing, play-by-play broadcast, television anchoring, podcasting and video production — Ben remains eager to contribute as credentialed media covering the LA Sparks.
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