The Los Angeles Sparks desperately needed a win to stay in the playoff qualification race. And when the LA side is looking down and out, Kelsey Plum usually steps up this season. She netted a dagger in a one-point win over the Dallas Wings and delivered a similar clutch performance against the Washington Mystics. Plum already mentioned that ‘no one feels bad for anyone‘, reacting to the tighter schedule in the league. She was focused on the task at hand.
Her fourth-quarter scoring spree handed the three-time champions an 81-78 victory at the Crypto.com Arena. After the game, the veteran guard spoke about her explosive scoring quarter.
Kelsey Plum Sheds Light on Her Fourth Quarter Mentality
The Los Angeles Sparks’ qualification scenario was heavily dependent on other teams’ results, yet the side had to maintain a winning momentum. The game against the Mystics was their first ‘target’ to win to push for a playoff spot.
Although the LA side started strong, the second and third quarter lapses caused massive damage. With just a six-point lead, the team needed to hold on to the surging Mystics and score at the same time. Kelsey Plum stepped up to the occasion, scoring 14 of 26 Sparks points in the final 10 minutes.
When asked about her late surge, she mentioned that she ‘read’ the situation and played accordingly.
“I know it will break open for me eventually. I thought they did a really good job playing on-ball street defense throughout the game. So just trying to be patient and then take my shots when I was ready,” Plum told reporters.
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Kelsey Plum (18 points (4-9 FG and 3-6 3PT) and 6 assists) chats with @NikkiKaySN1 following the Sparks' 81-78 victory over Washington! pic.twitter.com/ZWImQyuOmj
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) September 1, 2025
The player’s reading was on spot, with her carrying most of the offensive load in the closing 10 minutes, and contributed to more than 50% of the points scored in the final quarter. Apart from Plum, Rickea Jackson and Dearica Hamby scored in double digits, with the forwards combining well with the veteran guard. Jackson already praised Plum’s basketball IQ, and the veteran guard showed why she is one of the best on the court.
The LA team will now face another playoff contender, the Seattle Storm, on September 1 at the Climate Pledge Arena.
Kelsey Plum And The Los Angeles Sparks Put Pressure On The Eighth-Seed Team
On the day when the Sparks played against the Mystics, two other competitors for the postseason spot, the Indiana Fever and Golden State Valkyries, were playing against each other. The loser of the game would have ended in eighth place, just qualifying for the postseason.
More importantly, the LA Team will have its deficit cut by a small margin. Winning the game, the side is now just two games behind the eighth seed Indiana Fever, and had six games in hand. The Indiana team has just four games left in their schedule making the playoff chase even more interesting.