Sparks' Kelsey Plum Shocked After Wild Exchange With Paige Bueckers
The Los Angeles Sparks snapped their three-game losing streak with a convincing 93-79 road win over the Dallas Wings on Friday night.
Timely offense provided controlled pace throughout the entirety of the second half. The purple and gold began the third quarter on a 6-0 scoring run, then proceeded to lead another 9-0 run to begin the fourth period.
Read more: Sparks' Cameron Brink Challenges Controversial WNBA Rule
Five Sparks scored in double figures — most notably, 21 points and a career-high five triples from Azura Stevens, along with 31 combined points by both Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum.
Wins are bigger in Texas. 🤠 @albertapp pic.twitter.com/KwJPv4KWlP
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) June 7, 2025
Despite Dallas' recent struggles, Paige Bueckers has served as a much-needed bright spot.
Bueckers, selected first overall in this year's WNBA Draft, is currently averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and two steals per game.
However, she's missed each of the Wings' last four games after entering the WNBA's concussion protocol — with her last on-court appearance to date coming on May 29 against the Chicago Sky.
Most double-digit scoring games by a rookie this season:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 8, 2025
10 — Kiki Iriafen & Sonia Citron
9
8
7
6 — Paige Bueckers pic.twitter.com/lGkSNeG2kX
Despite the extended absence, Bueckers ranks third in double-digit scoring games by a rookie (six), behind just Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. The Wings are scoring nearly six fewer points with lowered field goal and three-point percentages with Bueckers out.
Though the rookie sensation was absent on Friday night, she shared a viral moment with Plum postgame.
Kelsey Plum and Paige Bueckers linked up post-game and let's just say, KP didn't like what the rook had to say 😂 pic.twitter.com/WcWGJcEhIq
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 7, 2025
The video showed the two sharing a heartfelt dialogue, before Bueckers pointed out a spot on the hardwood — seemingly trash talking the two-time WNBA champion in the process.
"You heard it. I'll remember this day, I'll remember this day," Plum told the camera.
Read more: Sparks' Guard Scores Season-High in Loss to Mercury
"Rookies talking s--- is crazy," she joked after the pair's exchange. "Your rookies are built different here."
Plum's next chance to suit up against Buckers and the Wings comes on August 15, back at Dallas' College Park Center.
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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