Sparks ramp up expectations after adding Kelsey Plum to roster - ESPN

After struggling to establish on-court success and relevance in recent years, the Los Angeles Sparks got the WNBA's attention Wednesday as they introduced three-time All-Star and two-time Olympian Kelsey Plum as the franchise's next star.

And one thing was very clear: The expectation with Plum is to win now.

«It's going to be a good season. It's going to be a winning season,» new Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. «And I'm not shying away from that. I want to win, and Kelsey being here gives us a really good chance of that.»

«It's a new day in L.A.,» said Plum, who is from San Diego and grew up going to Sparks games. «We're gonna hoop.»

Plum, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick, arrives in Los Angeles after spending her entire career with the Las Vegas Aces/San Antonio Stars organization, with whom she won WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023.

The Sparks haven't been a prized free agent destination in recent years, with the franchise slowly losing star power as legends like Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray departed for new teams from 2021 to 2023.

That dynamic changes with Plum's arrival.

The 5-foot-8 guard was an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but was cored by the Aces, meaning the only way she could change teams was via trade (though she had to sign off on where she was moved to and chose L.A). Ultimately a three-team deal also involving the Seattle Storm sent Plum to the Sparks, Seattle's Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas, and the Sparks' 2025 No. 2 overall pick to the Storm.

Giving up the No. 2 pick was seen as a controversial move by some, particularly with so much talent potentially coming out of college this year. Most WNBA veterans are signing one-year contracts with a new CBA — and big salary bumps — expected in