By: Jennifer Portee
5/23/2026
There was a moment late Saturday night where it felt like Kelsey Plum simply wasn’t going to let the Sparks lose.
Every time Las Vegas made a run, she answered. Every time the game tightened, she took control. And Erica Wheeler shot a three late in the 4th, moment that sealed it.
Plum had 38 points which is her best performance of the season and helped guide Los Angeles to a hard-fought 101–95 win over the defending champion Aces. But the play everyone will remember came with just over a minute left. With the game on the line, Plum found Wheeler on the perimeter, and Wheeler didn’t hesitate to drill a deep three that put the Sparks ahead for good.
They came out flying in the fourth quarter, putting together an 8–0 run that gave them some breathing room. But against a team like Las Vegas, no lead feels safe.
The Aces clawed back behind A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray, tying the game twice in the final minutes. It had all the signs of another late Vegas takeover. Instead, the Sparks stayed calm, executed, and made the plays that mattered.
Plum wasn’t doing it alone, either. Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink each added 16 points, and the team had a great overall performance. Wheeler had10 points, seven rebounds, six assists only tell part of her impact, especially with the biggest shot of the night coming off her hands.
Las Vegas had its moments. Wilson was dominant as usual with 24 points and 15 rebounds, and the team got strong scoring support throughout the lineup. But down the stretch, their rhythm slipped just enough missed threes, missed opportunities and against a locked-in Sparks team, that was the difference.
For Los Angeles, this felt bigger than just another win. It was a glimpse of what the team can look like when everything clicks energy, execution, and a star taking control when it matters most.
And on this night, that star was Kelsey Plum.