As the Chicago Sky came to California looking for their first win of the season, a stellar offensive display from Kelsey Plum saw them denied. But as the California native continues her flying start with the Los Angeles Sparks, the question arises. Did the Aces not value the gem at their hands?

Plum seemed unstoppable out there, not just scoring but also dishing out dimes to her new teammates. She finished the game with 28 points, 18 of which came from beyond the arc after she went 6-10, tying her career-high. She also torched defense from inside out, taking Angel Reese to the bucket for a finish. Plum then hit her with a “too small” gesture, sending the spectators into a frenzy. But the real show was put up in the 3rd quarter.

After the Sky closed in 41-43, Plum went on a 17-point run to help finish 91-78. Also adding to her performance were her 8 assists– tying for game-high. So, now as Plum continues to prove her worth as a first option, fans can’t help but wonder what Becky Hammon must think of it.

KP arrived in LA having spent 7 seasons with the Las Vegas Aces before she moved back home this year. Although the Aces offered Plum a core qualifying offer (a fully guaranteed one-year contract that’s worth the maximum salary for which the player is eligible), she decided it was time to move on. As part of a three-team trade, Plum arrived in LA along with the ninth overall pick in the 2025 Draft and the Storm’s 2026 second-round pick. While the Aces received guard Jewell Lloyd from the Storm.

Though Plum is undoubtedly a star, the arrival of Jewell Lloyd made the loss of KP less bitter for the Aces. However, Plum’s early dominance has the fans asking questions now. She started the season with a record-breaking 37-point performance. Then followed it up with 2 more 20-point performances. “I want to win, and Kelsey being here gives us a really good chance of that,” coach Lynne Roberts had said. “She’s a competitor, and that’s what we need. I want our team to get back where it belongs. That’s why I’m here, and that’s why Kelsey is here.” And Plum is leading the franchise towards that.

As the Sparks move to a 2-3 record with their star center Cameron Brink expected to return in June, the future looks bright in LA. The Aces, on the other hand, were blown out by the Seattle Storm, and with Becky Hammon’s highly touted side not living up to the billing early on, did the Aces make a mistake letting Plum go?

Fans become judges for Plum’s LV Aces exit

As Plum continued to torch Sky one possession after another, a fan made a bold statement. “Kelsey Plum looking like she didn’t get enough credit on the Aces.” he posted on X. Plum was part of a squad that won back-to-back titles in 2023 & 2024, and while her contributions to the chips weren’t small by any means, it was naturally shadowed by center A’ja Wilson. The star center won the Finals MVP in 2023, which she followed up with a regular season MVP in 2024. So fans are all in for Plum getting her due now.

“She got plenty of credit, she wanted to leave and step out of the shadow of Aja. It worked out for both parties,” posted a fan. With the MVP A’ja on the squad, it was hard to imagine a scenario where she wasn’t the focal point on offense. So while Plum’s recent performances can spark excitement around “what could’ve been”, it was probably just a case of the Aces having too many cooks. And with the trade, Kelsey Plum managed to save the broth. “Plum was being held back by Wilson,” another echoed.

But it wasn’t all about the A’ja – Plum dynamic. “absolutely she playing better after escaping that Aces coach,” another voiced. While her numbers were bound to make a jump with the system running through her in LA, the fan likely words it as an escape due to the tensions between the two during last year’s Semifinals. In the game 2 loss the Aces suffered to the NY Liberty, Coach Hammon was seen tearing into Kelsey Plum during the timeout sparking controversy. And while the incident was never credited as the one that caused Plum to leave, it incited further questions around their departures.

“Aces aren’t ready for the conversations that need to happen surrounding that roster,” posted a fan. While the Aces managed to retain their starting five excluding Plum, the losses of Kate Martin and Sydney Colson who provided significant minutes off the bench disappoint the fans. While Martin is also coming into her own with the Valkyries, the Aces front office are not looking good right now.

But while the fans will continue to chatter about endless possibilities, for Kelsey, the goal is clear. Classified as early underdogs, Plum would be looking to keep the young squad in the Playoffs mix till their center Brink returns after which they’ll look to surprise some giants. With more than ample amount of quality present in the squad, the Sparks’ season will surely contain a lot of fireworks.