The LA Sparks are slowly running out of luck with their injuries this season. While their performance has been inconsistent throughout, the availability of their players is proving a grave concern. Their latest defeat to the Minnesota Lynx led to another casualty for them in Kate Martin.

According to LA Sparks beat reporter John W. Davis, Martin faced a left knee injury in the third quarter of the game. This further limited Martin’s participation in the game, as she was ruled out for the rest of it.

The Sparks were already short of Cameron Brink and Kelsey Plum in the Minnesota game. Brink was out of the game with a left ankle injury. Brink had faced this injury in the game against the Golden State Valkyries.

Meanwhile, Plum was initially mentioned as questionable for the Minnesota game. But as reality set in, the LA Sparks’ points leader wasn’t included in the team’s rotation. Now, Martin’s injury mid-game leads to even more woes for the LA Sparks, who were already navigating without their key players.

However, the specifications regarding Kate Martin’s injury haven’t been issued by the franchise. Furthermore, the head coach, Lynne Roberts, hasn’t shared any update regarding Martin’s injury scar. Thus, the seriousness of the injury is still behind the curtains at the moment.

Martin’s situation this season has been scarred ever since the preseason. She faced a daunting Grade II quad strain during those practice game stretches. It limited her availability at the training camps, and now this left-knee injury just adds to her growing concerns.

Kate Martin was just starting to solidify her footing as a developmental player. She was playing her 10th game as a Sparks developmental pool player. It means that whenever she becomes fit going forward into the season, Martin can just play two more games under her developmental contract, unless the Sparks offer her a season-end contract.

These remaining games were crucial for Martin to prove her mettle and impress the Sparks front office. But this injury has now pushed those aspirations into the backseat.

Before her departure from the court, Martin logged just seven minutes in the Minnesota game. She couldn’t contribute a single point on the night and recorded just a single rebound. At the end of the game, the LA Sparks just couldn’t cope against a high-flying Minnesota Lynx while dealing with multiple roster injuries.

LA Sparks Face Their Eighth Loss of the Season Without Kelsey Plum, Cameron Brink, and Kate Martin

Challenging a Minnesota team that has won 10 of its last 11 games was always going to be difficult for the LA Sparks without Cameron Brink and Kelsey Plum. After all, Brink is the Sparks’ go-to defender this season, averaging 1.5 blocks per game.

Meanwhile, Plum has been scoring 25 points per game in the season, as per ESPN. And then with an injury to a utility player like Kate Martin, the Sparks fell well below the pecking order in the game. As reality set in, the Lynx clinched a 99-83 win.

The Sparks did have some inspiring performances on the night. For instance, Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby combined for 22 points and 17 rebounds. Rae Burrell led the night with 19 points while Jihyun Park recorded her first double figures in points (13).

But that was never going to be enough because Minnesota had a rookie on the court who could literally rip through any defense. Yes, Olivia Miles recorded another standout performance, scoring 31 points and 4 assists.

Additionally, Courtney Williams, Natasha Howard, and Kayla McBride also scored in double figures as the Lynx clinched another win. Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts herself admitted the challenges of playing the game without key players like Plum and Brink in the post-game presser.

“Thos are two of our most impactful players, right? Cam obviously offensively but defensively very impactful. That would have probably made a difference with Miles in there.”

With this defeat, the LA Sparks are now 7-8 in the season. Their only hope going forward is to get their players, like Kelsey Plum, Cameron Brink, and Kate Martin, back in the rotation. They have a couple of days’ break before their next game on June 21 against the New York Liberty at the Crypto.com Arena.