Sparks’ Kelsey Plum Reveals Biggest Issue With WNBA Officiating

Los Angeles' star guard was brutally honest when speaking on the league's officiating in a recent interview.
Jun 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) holds back guard Kelsey Plum (10) after tempers flared in the second half against the Chicago Sky at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jun 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) holds back guard Kelsey Plum (10) after tempers flared in the second half against the Chicago Sky at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Nearly two weeks ago, Los Angeles Sparks' star guard Kelsey Plum was named a WNBA All-Star for the fourth consecutive time in her career.

Read more: Sparks’ Kelsey Plum Makes Major Announcement

Plum was selected as part of the 2025 reserves by the WNBA's head coaches' vote. It came after Plum — slotted sixth by both the fans and media — ranked 16th in the player vote, a surprise to many.

At WNBA All-Star media availability on Friday morning, Plum was brutally honest when speaking about recent WNBA officiating — and clear issues with the league's refs, per Robin Lundberg.

"I think people are getting frustrated at the consistency," Plum said. "So it's a ticky-tack [foul] here, then someone gets absolutely assaulted over here — and like, where is the line? And when did we call it? Why did we call it?

Read more: Sparks' Cameron Brink Reacts to WNBA All-Star Snubs

"I also think, too, a lot of teams specifically play me very physical, which I get," she continued. "But a foul is a foul — a foul in the first quarter is a foul in the fourth quarter ... The officiating across the board, people have been frustrated with."

This comes over a month since a similar comment from Plum was made towards the refs — following Los Angeles' overtime loss to Golden State on June 9.

“I’m going to get fined for saying this … they were fouling the s—- out of me,” she 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.


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Ben Geffner
BEN GEFFNER

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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