NBA Champion’s Dig at WNBA Players Proves True as Kelsey Plum’s LA Sparks Clips Go Viral

Lower the rims, use a smaller ball, don’t ask for more money—this is what goes through the common man’s mind when they think about the WNBA. Sure, the perception of the W has changed over the last few years, thanks to Caitlin Clark and the emerging talents like Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, and more, around the league, but it’s still not where it needs to be. And to be honest? Negative comments from NBA stars are definitely not helping.

After leaving Denver, star wing Michael Porter Jr. has had a lot on his mind, especially about women, and now? He has his sights set on the WNBA.

The former NBA champion came up with an interesting hypothetical: What would happen if the WNBA All-Star team went head-to-head against male high-school stars? His answer was pretty much as expected. “If the WNBA All-Star team, if the Olympic team played the McDonald’s Boys All-American high school players? It’s one of them things, bro. You can’t dance around it.” But how true is that statement?

Sure, we’ve seen the lowlights and we’ve seen the brain-fade compilations on YouTube, but that doesn’t mean that players in the W can’t hoop! The main point of contention between the NBA and the WNBA is the physicality and athleticism, as both leagues possess skilled players. However, a recent LA Sparks practice video went viral on social media, and it added fuel to the fire!

It was an early Christmas for critics of the WNBA. The video showed five unassuming guys in jerseys playing against the LA Sparks team. They looked shorter and slower than the professionals they were competing with, but were still handing out buckets. It’s not a good look for a practice player to be hitting a contested jelly layup on a premier WNBA frontcourt. Not only does it raise questions about the skill level of the players, but it also proves MPJ right. But before critics take that Sparks scrimmage as the ultimate evidence, history has shown a very different picture.

Caitlin Clark herself became part of basketball folklore when she torched Iowa’s all-male practice squad for 22 points in just two minutes, a run that featured seven logo threes and a buzzer-beater floater. “So I think I had 22 points in two minutes, was the moral of the story.” What began as disbelief became viral proof that elite women can dominate against men when given the chance. The footage didn’t just silence doubters, but underscored that it’s more about who’s playing better on the day.

Practice squads aren’t that uncommon in the W, and normally? Kelsey Plum’s Sparks go up against the USC scout team. However, they tried a different approach this season by announcing formal tryouts to be a LA Sparks practice player. That didn’t sit well with some players, however, as sophomore star Cameron Brink had some things to say about it.

Cameron Brink, Kelsey Plum, and the Sparks faced an interesting practice dilemma

We, those who follow the W, knew what would happen when the Sparks called out for practice players. It’s always risky to include fans and supporters in franchise work, especially when it has to deal with the WNBA. So, it made sense that Cameron Brink, the six-foot-four center for Los Angeles, felt ‘icked out’ by the potential additions to the team.

“My confession is I’m really icked out by the potential new practice players,” Brink said on the ‘Straight to Cam’ podcast. “All the comments are, like, ‘Let Cameron Brink back me down’ or something about Rickea or something about Kelsey. … Who are we trusting coming into this gym?” Do you wanna know what the sad thing is? She’s not even exaggerating.

Because of how weird the responses from the public were, the LA Sparks were forced to put out a statement ahead of the tryout. “The Los Angeles Sparks are committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all our players and want to emphasize that player safety remains our top priority. To clarify, as always for our practice squad tryouts, no Sparks players will participate or be in attendance.” The statement read. If you read between the lines, it’s a clear warning from the organization to any potential troublemakers.

Luckily, there weren’t any safety issues during the process, and it all worked out smoothly. The footage of Kelsey Plum’s Sparks versus their practice team stirred some controversy, but honestly? That tends to happen when you’re in the WNBA. The Los Angeles Sparks are climbing up the packed Western Conference and trying to cement their place in the playoffs. Will they be able to capture the eighth seed? Or will Seattle hold them at bay? Stay tuned to find out.