{"id":745675,"date":"2026-07-06T02:41:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T02:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/745675\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T02:41:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T02:41:11","slug":"sparks-still-adjusting-without-kelsey-plum-with-storm-on-horizon-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/745675\/","title":{"rendered":"Sparks still adjusting without Kelsey Plum with Storm on horizon – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Returning home from a rough road swing, the Los Angeles Sparks will look to bounce back after a lengthy layoff when they host the Seattle Storm on Monday.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles (8-10) dropped decisions by 28 points at Toronto on June 25 and 24 points at Indiana on June 27. The blowout losses came on the heels of the Sparks learning they would be without leading scorer Kelsey Plum for a stretch of at least four weeks.<\/p>\n

A nine-year veteran who is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers and a career-high 23.9 points per game, Plum sustained a left leg injury that required heavy wrapping during Los Angeles\u2019 98-97 win over New York on June 21.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s the best one-on-one player in the league. She\u2019s having an MVP (type of) season,\u201d Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said of Plum.<\/p>\n

Roberts lamented Plum being excluded from the starting lineup of the WNBA All-Star Game, which was determined by a combination of fan, player and media balloting. Plum finished sixth among guards in fan voting, with Los Angeles teammate Nneka Ogwumike eighth among frontcourt players.<\/p>\n

Ogwumike is averaging 16.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in Year 1 of her second tenure with the Sparks. Ogwumike leads Los Angeles on Monday against a Seattle franchise for which she finished in the top seven of MVP voting in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.<\/p>\n

Ogwumike\u2019s exit to return to Los Angeles, where she previously played from 2012-2023, is not the only change from a year ago for the struggling Storm (5-17).<\/p>\n

Gone from Seattle\u2019s 2025 roster after sweeping offseason changes are Gabby Williams, Skylar Diggins, Brittney Sykes and Erica Wheeler, a veteran guard who joined Ogwumike with the Sparks. Of the Storm\u2019s top six scorers a season ago, four-time WNBA All-Defensive honoree forward Ezi Magbegor is the only one still in the Seattle organization.<\/p>\n

Magbegor, though, was sidelined for the first 20 games of the regular season with a right foot injury. She made her 2026 debut in Thursday\u2019s 90-67 loss at Phoenix, scoring eight points in 17 minutes. Magbegor followed that with four points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes of Seattle\u2019s 77-72 loss Saturday to Portland. <\/p>\n

While the new-look Storm roster adjusted before Magbegor\u2019s return, rookie Awa Fam stepped up as one of the team\u2019s most consistent contributors. Fam is averaging 12.0 points on 51.7% shooting from the floor, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just been fun to see her growth over the last few games,\u201d Magbegor said of Fam. \u201cShe\u2019s not new to this professional life, but just to be able to see her settle into the (WNBA) is really exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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