Lower than 10 days in the past, the Seattle Storm and the Sparks battled deep right into a second extra time — the primary of the 2025 WNBA season — wringing each drop of drama out of Local weather Pledge Enviornment. On Sunday night time, the identical stakes had been at play because the groups tried to strengthen their playoff possibilities.
The depth didn’t let up until the ultimate horn. With 5.6 seconds left, Dearica Hamby roared into the paint and scored on a driving layup to place the Sparks forward for good. After the Storm missed their remaining likelihood to win, pandemonium spilled onto the ground — Sparks gamers leaping into each other’s arms, followers hollering over the hardwood, chanting “Hamby” in celebration of the Sparks’ 94-91 victory.
“We’re playing for that kind of game,” stated guard Julie Allemand, who had eight assists, “it’s exciting to play that kind of game. At the end, when you make the great shot that we need, it’s a great feeling.”
The Sparks managed to rally after falling right into a 16-point deficit within the first quarter, maybe a symptom of taking part in on back-to-back nights.
Then got here Kelsey Plum — who completed with 20 factors, seven assists and 6 rebounds — bending her sport in each course to haul the Sparks to their ninth win in 11 video games.
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts has painted Plum as a shape-shifter — capable of twist her sport into regardless of the sport calls for.
“That’s what your best players should do — get everybody else involved and make sure we’re flowing,” Roberts stated earlier than the sport, “and then when they need you, you step up. She’s done a tremendous job.”
Trailing the Storm (16-16) by 17 within the first quarter, Plum, who nonetheless hadn’t scored but, tore right into a one-on-five quick break, freezing the protection with a hesitation on the arc and a glide into the basket for an and-1. Seconds later, Plum created one other alternative off an prolonged proper elbow, drilling a three-pointer in Erica Wheeler’s face.
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, proper, drives towards Seattle guard Brittney Sykes within the fourth quarter Sunday.
(Luke Hales / Getty Photographs)
“I’ve always been known as a scorer and I learned that over time, your impact on the game a lot of time is because you can score, you’re going to draw attention and find people,” Plum stated. “On the run we’ve been on, we’re better when I’m kind of doing both.”
It was the spurt of momentum the Sparks (15-16) wanted to beat a sputtering begin.
Taking part in your entire first half, Plum went from the table-setter to shot-maker within the second quarter — springing Rae Burrell for a nook three earlier than splashing a triple to tie the rating 29-29 with 6:30 left within the second quarter.
“Leadership is hard, figuring out when to push, when to pull, when to give it up, when to take it over,” Roberts stated. “[Plum] just continues to get better and better at it. … She’s so competitive and wants to win.”
Azurá Stevens and Cameron Brink had been sturdy in the important thing early, however the Sparks clanked jumpers, dribbled into visitors and watched offensive possessions die on the rim along with committing eight first-quarter turnovers. So Roberts rolled the cube on a smaller look — swapping her paint patrol of Stevens and Brink for guards Julie Vanloo and Burrell.
“When they go really big, we kind of went a little smaller with Rickea [Jackson]at the four,” Roberts stated. “It was a battle of wills — it seems like every time, like the last time we played them, back and forth.”
Plum and Allemand stored the smaller unit in fixed movement, whipping passes from wing to wing and slicing open lanes for Burrell and Jackson, whereas Vanloo, Allemand and Plum cashed in from past the arc. Roberts rode that group into the second quarter, they usually finally whittled the deficit.
Hamby completed with 19 factors and 7 rebounds, Stevens had 15 factors and eight rebounds and Brink contributed 14 factors, 5 rebounds and two steals off the bench.
When the ultimate buzzer light, gamers had been nonetheless grinning by way of hugs, and the group’s “Hamby” chants continued — pleasure for a Sparks staff that had yanked itself out of the fireplace.
“Really proud of that bounce-back,” Plum stated. “We could have folded — especially early. But there’s something to this team. We’re young, we’re competitive, we’re hungry.”
