Latest news with #LynneRoberts
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sparks fail to hold on to 18-point lead in frustrating loss to Mercury
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum drives to the basket during an 85-80 loss to the Phoenix Mercury at Arena on Sunday. (Juan Ocampo / NBAE via Getty Images) When the Sparks faced the Phoenix Mercury last month, the game ended with a failed Sparks comeback. There was another comeback Sunday — and it belonged to Phoenix. Unable to stay ahead after building an 18-point lead, the Sparks fell 85-80 to the Mercury at Arena for their third consecutive loss. Advertisement The third quarter once again proved to be the Sparks undoing. After scoring just seven points in the third quarter in their loss to Phoenix on May 21, the Sparks were outscored 24-9 in the third on Sunday. Read more: Sparks can't stop A'ja Wilson and Aces in Kelsey Plum's return to Las Vegas Before the game, Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said consistency in transition defense, avoiding prolonged bad stretches and fluid ball movement would define a strong third quarter. None of that materialized against Phoenix. After opening with their best first quarter of the season, the Sparks quickly became visibly frustrated in the second half. A three-pointer from Kathryn Westbeld with 2:11 left in the third gave the Mercury their first lead, 58–57, and capped a 21-5 run. Advertisement The shift in energy was palpable in what became a chippy, physical game. Momentum swung in Phoenix's favor late in the third when Satou Sabally was fouled by Kelsey Plum while scoring on a layup, pointing and shouting to the Sparks bench as she celebrated. Sabally finished as the Mercury's leading scorer with 24 points. She also had nine rebounds. The teams traded leads early in the fourth quarter. Trailing by two, with 25 seconds left, Plum turned over the ball while trying to pass to an open shooter. Plum then fouled Kitija Laksa, who made two free throws to make it a four-point game. Plum was one for 13 in the second half, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds. Advertisement The Sparks were a different team in the first quarter behind a new starting lineup of Julie Allemand, Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens, Odyssey Sims, Plum. They scored 27 points and had a 10-point lead going into the second quarter. After struggling with flat starts all season, the team finally found an early rhythm — one they've shown in flashes, but haven't sustained. Standing at 5-foot-8, Sims — one of the Sparks' fiercest competitors — helped keep the team in the game to the finish, scoring a game-high 32 points. She relentlessly attacked the basket, giving Mercury defender Sami Whitcomb the 'too small' gesture in the process. She hit the floor multiple times on hard drives, fighting through contact, and getting in the faces of Mercury defenders to confront them about foul calls. At times, the toll of her effort showed, as she walked with a slight limp between plays. Despite the effort it wasn't enough to secure a much-needed win for a Sparks team that will play eight of its next 11 games on the road. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
A'ja Wilson scores 35 points to power Aces to 96-81 victory over Sparks
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A'ja Wilson had 35 points and 13 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces bounced back from a 20-point loss five days earlier to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 96-81 on Friday night. This was the highest-scoring game for Wilson, who also had six assists, since her 41-point performance Sept. 1 at Phoenix. Jackie Young added 26 points for the Aces (3-2) and Chelsea Gray had 15. Kelsey Plum led the Sparks (2-5) with 17 points, Odyssey Sims scored 15 points and former Dearica Hamby had 14. Plum and coach Lynne Roberts were hit with technical fouls for arguing with officials on separate occasions. The Aces, expected to be WNBA title contenders, entered this game off a slow start to the season that included a 102-82 loss at Seattle on Sunday. Las Vegas went on a 23-2 run before the Sparks closed the first quarter with a 15-5 spurt of their own to draw to within 28-21. But the Aces add 15-3 run in the second period to go up 54-36, and the outcome was not seriously in doubt after that. Los Angeles made a late push, getting as close as eight points with 4:07 left. This was Plum's first game in Las Vegas since she was part of the three-team trade in January in which the Aces acquired Loyd from Seattle. The Sparks were without Rickea Jackson, who did not play because of personal reasons. Jackson averages 7.0 points per game. Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard and Hall of Famer Tina Thompson sat courtside. ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
It's not a rebuild for the Sparks, who look to contend now
Last November, gathered along the concourse of Arena, newly appointed Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts issued a clear directive on her first day for the 2025 season: to win. A tall order coming off the worst season in franchise history. Seated beside her, general manager Raegan Pebley, certain she had chosen the right leader to revive a franchise that had tumbled far from its championship standard, echoed Roberts' belief. Advertisement Five months later, back on that very concourse, Roberts' message remained unmistakable: 'We're not just happy to be here. … We want to compete, and every time we put on that jersey, we want to win.' The message, trickling down from the Sparks' front office to the coaching staff to the players, is unified — it's not a rebuild, nor a restart, but a reclamation. After years of decline, an offseason injection of capital followed by a franchise-altering trade and the signing (and re-signing) of championship-experienced veterans, signaled a push to restore the reputation of a flagship WNBA team in one of the league's marquee markets. While desire alone won't guarantee victories, especially for a team with just eight last season, this season has already started on a promising note with a dominant 84-67 victory that spoiled the expansion Golden State Valkyries' first regular-season game on Friday. Advertisement Read more: Kelsey Plum breaks a WNBA points record in Sparks' season-opening win With last year behind them, the focus is on ending a four-year playoff drought. 'I haven't been shy about saying I want to make the playoffs,' Roberts said on what first-year success looks like. 'With the roster we have, we can. Is it going to be hard? Yeah, climbing is hard. Changing things is hard.' For a reclamation to take hold and a climb back into playoff relevance to become a reality, the Sparks will rely on the dogged leadership of their newest star, Kelsey Plum, acquired in a three-team trade in January. The fiery floor general is not just here to run the point. She's here to lead. Advertisement A fresh voice on the team, Plum brings a superstar stature to complement fellow All-Star Dearica Hamby. Their reunion is a full-circle moment. After six seasons and a championship together in Las Vegas, they're back on the same side, this time with something to prove in L.A. 'It's no mystery that they're our best players, and when your best players are also your hardest workers, they lead by trying to empower,' Roberts said. 'The most impactful part is that they do it without ego. They're very confident. … It's impossible as a young player not to be affected by that. … But it's in a way that's never threatening or intimidating.' This season, the team will lean on the duo's championship pedigree, counting on them to instill the mindset and habits of a winning culture. So far, the two have led in different but equally impactful ways. In stepping into a new leadership role, Plum sets the tone with fierce competitiveness, pushing younger teammates through example and empowerment. Hamby counters with understanding and steadiness, serving as a calming presence and mentor. This dichotomy of leadership styles could prove instrumental in a locker room filled with rookies and rising stars. Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, bringing the ball up the court while defended by Valkyries guard Kate Martin, had 37 points, six assists and five steals in a season-opening win Friday. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press) Plum arrives with an impressive list of accolades — two-time champion, three-time All-Star, Sixth Woman of the Year, Olympic gold medalist. Those credentials could easily stoke ego or entitlement, but by all accounts, her demeanor in the locker room is anything but that. Teammates describe her as grounded and approachable. They've quickly rallied behind her. Advertisement 'I enjoy coming to work every day,' said forward Rickea Jackson, entering her second season. 'To be part of something like this, it's a breath of fresh air. Some people try to overstep or be a stickler, but she [Plum] does just enough. She says just enough. Her energy speaks for itself — she doesn't have to feel like she has to go out and get respect.' For Plum, this season is about fulfilling the blueprint Pebley and Roberts outlined in their first conversation. Their shared commitment to restoring the Sparks' championship standard — something the franchise hasn't lived up to in nearly a decade — convinced Plum to approve the trade months ago. 'Everything starts and ends with vision — you operate out of a vision,' Plum said. 'In life, you've got to adapt and continue to grow and get better. And I understand there's been a lull here, and everyone's aware of that. … I'm here to not only build culture, but affect winning, and I think they're on the same trajectory.' After years of contributing to championship-caliber teams, Plum is champing at the bit to lead her own squad. She believes that focusing on executing the game plan and driving team success will naturally lead to individual accolades. Advertisement 'There are a lot of players who can put up empty stats, but for me, it's about how I can help this team win,' Plum said. 'I understand where we were last year, and my goal is to significantly change that.' Statistically, Hamby and Plum rank among the WNBA's elite duos. Last season, Hamby led the team, averaging 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. Plum brings added offensive depth with a top-10 scoring average (17.8 points) and precision shooting from beyond the arc — she was third in the league with 110 made three-pointers. Read more: Sparks' Rickea Jackson continues a smooth transition to stardom After one game, the two are already thriving under Roberts' new system, which stresses freedom — freedom to stretch the floor, create more open three-point opportunities and boost offensive output through a 'positionless' approach. Plum scored 37 points — the most ever in a WNBA season opener — while Hamby recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Valkyries. Advertisement 'It's clear they have on-court chemistry,' Roberts said. 'They're not afraid to use their voice. … I can call something, and then those two are kind of whispering about how they're going to run an audible, and it almost always works.' As a team, everyone from decade-long veterans such as Plum and Hamby to rookies Sarah Ashlee Barker and Sania Feagin, is learning the system together, fostering a shared urgency to get on the same page and reap the benefits of a reset. 'I feel like we are ahead of the curve in terms of our newness,' said Jackson of the reimagined Sparks. 'Everyone's a hooper, everybody's a dog. You can tell we just want to win at the end of the day… We hold each other accountable, and no one takes it personally.' At their core, the Sparks are a youthful roster. Jackson, Cameron Brink and Rae Burrell — all under 25 — were starters last season and represent the foundation of the team's future. Advertisement For now, Jackson appears poised to take a step forward from the start. She spent the offseason sharpening her skills in Unrivaled, the women's professional three-on-three basketball league. Jackson's play has many picking her as the WNBA's next breakout star — a high bar that comes with even higher pressure for last year's No. 4 overall draft pick. A standout from one of the deeper draft classes in recent memory, Jackson is expected to ascend from rookie starter to potential All-Star. Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, right, gets past Valkyries forward Monique Billings for a layup during a season-opening win on Friday. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press) Burrell also benefited from Unrivaled, but she suffered an apparent knee injury in Friday's opener against the Valkyries and had to be carried off the court by teammates. It's unclear how much time she could miss, but it might be significant. Advertisement Brink, Jackson's rookie classmate, is still rehabbing from aknee injury. On media day, she offered a positive update, saying she feels confident about her recovery. Barring setbacks, Brink is expected back around the All-Star break in mid-July. She participated in parts of training camp, building chemistry with Plum, but was occasionally absent and seen in a walking boot due to 'foot discomfort,' per the team. The organization remains cautious in its approach and says Brink 'continues to move in a positive direction.' Azurá Stevens is stepping up to fill the frontcourt gap in Brink's absence. A former champion with the Chicago Sky, now in her second stint in L.A., Stevens also competed in Unrivaled this offseason. She helped lead Rose BC to the inaugural championship. Pebley and Roberts shaped the roster through close collaboration. While they aligned on many decisions and diverged on others, Pebley says every move stemmed from open dialogue and thoughtful debate. Advertisement Now in her second year as GM, Pebley is intrinsically linked to Roberts, with their roster-building synergy central to the team's foundation. A unified approach is believed to give Roberts, an accomplished leader with 27 years of college coaching experience but new to the pros, the best chance to succeed in her first WNBA season and years to come. 'We are really working hard to make sure that we're building to a win-now mentality, but also win in the future,' Pebley said. 'And there's a balance. … There's a lot of thoughtfulness that has to go into all of these decisions to make that happen.' Against the Valkyries, the starting lineup featured Plum — the lone newcomer — alongside 12-year veteran Odyssey Sims in the backcourt, Jackson and Hamby at forward with Stevens anchoring the frontcourt. The plan is to stick with this lineup until Brink returns. Winning is at the forefront this season. The hope is that the organization has built a roster around Plum and Hamby, a pair of All-Stars capable leading the team on a postseason run. . Plum is ready for the task. "I was put in this position to be able to carry a heavier load,' Plum said. 'And I have broad shoulders.' This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CBS News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Kelsey Plum scores 37 points as Sparks spoil Valkyries debut 84-67
SAN FRANCISCO — Kelsey Plum scored 26 of her 37 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Sparks spoiled the first game in Golden State Valkyries history with a 84-67 victory Friday night. Even the loss couldn't dampen the excitement from the sellout crowd of 18,064 at the arena that has been transformed into Valkyries purple rather than the typical court for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. The Valkyries are the WNBA's first expansion franchise since 2008 and bring professional women's basketball to the Bay Area. Dearica Hamby added 14 points and Rickea Jackson scored 13 for the Sparks, who won in their first game under new coach Lynne Roberts. Kayla Thornton scored the first basket in Valkyries history on the team's first possession and there were quickly chants of "G-S-V! G-S-V!" Tiffany Hayes scored 19 points to lead Golden State, Temi Fagbenle added 15 and Julie Vanloo scored 14. After winning two titles in her final three seasons in Las Vegas, Plum was traded in the offseason to Los Angeles in a three-team deal that also included Seattle. She made an impressive debut with her new team with the second-highest scoring game of her career, taking over on the offensive end in the third quarter as Los Angeles built its lead to 15 points. But three straight 3-pointers from Vanloo cut the deficit back to six points and brought some of the biggest cheers to the crowd as the Valkyries kept it close into the fourth quarter. Sparks guard Rae Burrell had to be carried off the court late in the first quarter after she injured herself when fouling Carla Leite on a 3-point attempt. Burrell was down for a few minutes with an injury to her right leg. Up next Los Angeles hosts Minnesota on Sunday in its home opener. The Valkyries host Washington next Wednesday.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kelsey Plum scores 37 points to lead the Sparks to an 84-67 win in the Valkyries' debut
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, bottom right, shoots against Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, and guard Sarah Ashlee Barker during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, foreground, reacts after a score by Golden State Valkyries' Julie Vanloo during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) looks to shoot while being defended by Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton during the first half of a WNBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) looks to shoot while being defended by Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton during the first half of a WNBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, bottom right, shoots against Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, and guard Sarah Ashlee Barker during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, foreground, reacts after a score by Golden State Valkyries' Julie Vanloo during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) looks to shoot while being defended by Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton during the first half of a WNBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored 26 of her 37 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Sparks spoiled the first game in Golden State Valkyries history with a 84-67 victory Friday night. Even the loss couldn't dampen the excitement from the sellout crowd of 18,064 at the arena that has been transformed into Valkyries purple rather than the typical court for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. Advertisement The Valkyries are the WNBA's first expansion franchise since 2008 and bring professional women's basketball to the Bay Area. Dearica Hamby added 14 points and Rickea Jackson scored 13 for the Sparks, who won in their first game under new coach Lynne Roberts. Kayla Thornton scored the first basket in Valkyries history on the team's first possession and there were quickly chants of 'G-S-V! G-S-V!' Tiffany Hayes scored 19 points to lead Golden State, Temi Fagbenle added 15 and Julie Vanloo scored 14. After winning two titles in her final three seasons in Las Vegas, Plum was traded in the offseason to Los Angeles in a three-team deal that also included Seattle. Advertisement She made an impressive debut with her new team with the second-highest scoring game of her career, taking over on the offensive end in the third quarter as Los Angeles built its lead to 15 points. But three straight 3-pointers from Vanloo cut the deficit back to six points and brought some of the biggest cheers to the crowd as the Valkyries kept it close into the fourth quarter. Sparks guard Rae Burrell had to be carried off the court late in the first quarter after she injured herself when fouling Carla Leite on a 3-point attempt. Burrell was down for a few minutes with an injury to her right leg. Up next Los Angeles hosts Minnesota on Sunday in its home opener. The Valkyries host Washington next Wednesday. ___ AP WNBA:
