As the news of Kelsey Plum’s injury broke out, worried fans immediately began searching for answers about what may have caused it. That quickly led many to focus on one particular moment from practice that involved Nneka Ogwumike and Plum. But before the speculation could fully take over social media, an eyewitness stepped in to clear up the rumors surrounding the incident.

It all started after reporter Justin Russo took to X and shared a disheartening update for the Los Angeles Sparks fans, which read, “Kelsey Plum appeared to suffer a right lower leg injury during practice today and was helped off the floor by several players.”

While this update broke every headline, it still wasn’t clear what caused the injury. So when Russo later uploaded a video showing Plum and Ogwumike doing a playful one-on-one walking race during practice, several fans quickly assumed that this may have been the moment that led to Plum’s injury.

However, the Los Angeles reporter quickly shut those rumors down before the situation spiraled any further.

“I’ve seen people speculate that this is how the injury occurred,” he wrote. “But the incident that led to Kelsey Plum leaving practice came in the structured 5-on-5 portion that was not to be filmed. The video below is from before any of the full contact portion or skeleton work.”

That clarification immediately changed the conversation surrounding Ogwumike’s involvement. But amid all the speculation, let’s be honest about one thing – the timing could not be worse for Los Angeles.

Kelsey Plum has been carrying a massive offensive load for the Sparks in the 2026 WNBA season. She is currently averaging 26.8 points per game through six games, which has made her the top scorer in the league so far. So to put it simply, Los Angeles needs that production.

The Sparks are still trying to find their rhythm under head coach Lynne Roberts, and Plum’s offense has often been the stabilizing force keeping the team competitive. Her importance became even more noticeable after Ogwumike missed the Sparks’ matchup against the Las Vegas Aces because of a hand injury.

Yet even without the veteran star, Plum still led her team to a win against one of the strongest franchises in the league. So now, the question is, how serious is her injury? At the moment, the Sparks still do not know the severity of this, but Russo reported that Roberts believes it “looks like an ankle” issue. However, they have not revealed any further timeline or diagnosis yet, except that she will be re-evaluated in one week.

That uncertainty is enough to make any fan nervous. If Plum misses any significant time, Los Angeles will suddenly have to figure out how to replace not just its leading scorer, but arguably the entire engine behind its offense.

So if the injury does turn out to be something serious, who exactly can the Sparks lean on to help fill that massive void?

What the Sparks’ Backcourt Could Look Like Without Kelsey Plum

If this injury forces Plum to miss games, coach Roberts would likely have to spread her responsibilities across multiple guards.

The most obvious change would start with veteran guard Erica Wheeler.

Wheeler is the natural candidate to slide into a larger on-ball role because of her experience and ability to control tempo. While she does not bring the same explosive scoring ability that Plum provides every night, Wheeler can offer stability.

The veteran guard has over 1,200 career assists and understands how to run an offense efficiently. She can slow things down, initiate sets, and create easier looks for players like Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink. But even if she stabilizes the offense, somebody still has to absorb the scoring pressure Kelsey Plum leaves behind.

That responsibility can shift toward Ariel Atkins.

The Sparks already rely heavily on Atkins as one of their best two-way players, but if the situation demands, her offensive role would likely expand immediately. Roberts could start running more perimeter actions specifically designed to free Atkins beyond the arc, especially after flashes like her back-to-back third-quarter triples against Phoenix.

Atkins has the defensive pedigree to stay on the floor in every situation. That makes her the clearest option to become Los Angeles’ primary perimeter threat if Plum is unavailable.

But beyond the veterans, the injury could also force the Sparks to accelerate the development of their younger guards.

For now, though, all of these remain contingency plans until the Sparks receive more clarity on Kelsey Plum’s injury. But if the ankle issue sidelines her for any stretch of time, Los Angeles may soon find out just how much pressure its backcourt depth can truly handle.