For Christmas a few months in the past, Kelsey Plum’s boyfriend gifted her a set of candles from totally different cities. She put them in numerous rooms all through her home, and the Los Angeles one ended up proper by her bedside.
“It’s simply humorous to me as a result of it was on my spirit for some time,” she mentioned. “And I look again now and it makes good sense.”
Plum took the rostrum on the Crypto.com Area flooring Wednesday afternoon for her official introduction as an L.A. Spark, two and a half weeks after the workforce pulled off a blockbuster three-team commerce with the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm that despatched shockwaves throughout the WNBA and landed the two-time champion with the workforce she grew up idolizing.
“I’m from 90 minutes away-ish, relying on the visitors,” she mentioned. “I bear in mind coming to Sparks video games as a child when my mother would take me. I’m simply tremendous grateful for the love and assist. … The possession and the legacy that this franchise has had, I’m very nicely conscious and I perceive that we’re right here to compete. So there’s expectations to win instantly.”
Despite the fact that it’s been nearly a decade since their final title run and the Sparks are coming off a league-worst 8-32 season that resulted in former head coach Curtis Miller’s ousting, Plum made it clear what the expectation is for this season and past.
She brings a veteran presence not simply to the ground, but additionally within the locker room for a younger core consisting of final 12 months’s No. 2 and 4 general picks in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, respectively. One after the other, Plum spoke glowingly of her new teammates.
“I feel Cam is a defensive participant of the 12 months, Rickea’s an all-star. Rae Burrell’s an amazing expertise, and I feel that she might be the most effective two-way guards within the league,” she mentioned. “So while you have a look at the flexibility, everybody can shoot, they’ll play a number of positions, they’ll guard a number of positions, and so they’re all rivals. Know they wish to win, they wish to get higher. They wish to be nice. That to me, actually stood out.”
“[Dearica Hamby] and I’ve all the time had only a true bond. I’m simply so grateful for her friendship, and likewise simply the participant that she is and the resilience that she has. We’ve all the time had an amazing connection if you happen to look again at our instances in Vegas. Me and her taking part in collectively, it’s only a totally different degree of tempo, so I’m tremendous excited to get again to that.”
Plum was additionally bought on the imaginative and prescient that new basic supervisor Raegan Pebley and head coach Lynne Roberts laid out from their first conversations collectively. She was already accustomed to Roberts’ system from taking part in towards her within the Pac-12 and from watching Utah video games over time, and appreciated the potential match.
“I’ve been chomping on the bit to get the chance to have the ability to lead and present who I’m as a participant on a special scale,” Plum mentioned. “I’m simply actually enthusiastic about that, and I’ve by no means been extra prepared.”
On the Sparks’ aspect of issues, including Plum wasn’t only a flashy transfer but additionally stuffed their greatest want. Pebley talked about that considered one of their high priorities going into the offseason was enhancing the backcourt and after they had the chance to accumulate Plum, they didn’t hesitate to half with their No. 2 general decide on this 12 months’s draft.
“It’s Kelsey Plum,” Pebley mentioned emphatically. “It’s who she is and the way she’s proven up. The braveness that she competes with, and leads with and presents with is so constant. To have the ability to haven’t simply her skillset, however that confidence, and management and skill right here in L.A., we’re pushing our chips in.”
It was a full circle second for Plum, wearing an all-white powersuit, nearly as if symbolizing a rebirth for the long-dormant Sparks.
“Simply taking this franchise again to the place it’s been and the place it would proceed to go,” Plum mentioned. “It’s a brand new day in L.A., so we’re gonna hoop.”