Sparks guard has emerged as an early WNBA MVP candidate

When Kelsey Plum opted to leave the Las Vegas Aces and join the Los Angeles Sparks in free agency, she was taking a risk. Plum, a three-time WNBA All-Star, had already won two WNBA championships with the Aces and established herself as one of the league’s elite guards.

In the offseason, she opted to join one of last year’s least competitive teams, with the knowledge that she’d almost immediately become a No. 1 option. But, though it’s still early days in Los Angeles, Plum has already showcased that she’s capable of an even bigger load. She opened up the season with a 37-point, 6-assist, 5-steal performance, in which she shot 11-19 from the field, 4-6 from three, and 11-11 from the line.

And, through five games, Plum is the league’s second-leading scorer, averaging 24.8 points per, and shooting 43.2% from three. She’s also currently 7th in the league in assists per game (5.6 per night) and third in steals, with 2.4 steals a night.

The Sparks are 2-3 to start the season, and will need to tally more wins for Plum to truly be an MVP candidate.

Napheesa Collier currently appears to be the MVP frontrunner, averaging a league-best 29.5 points per game on 56.2% shooting and 53.9% from three en route to a 4-0 start to the season.

But, Plum will continue to be in the mix so long as the Sparks find a way to win.

“I want to win so bad,” Plum said after the Sparks’ blowout win over the Chicago Sky. “I hate losing. It makes me sick. Whatever this team needs.”

The return of young standouts Rae Burrell (leg injury), Rickea Jackson (concussion), and Cameron Brink (ACL tear recovery) — all of whom are expected to come back this season — should help. So far this year, Azura Stevens (17 points) and Dearica Hamby (16.8 points) have led the supporting cast.

But, since the season opener, Plum has shown that she’s very much capable of being the head of the snake — and that she could be up there with some of the league’s top players.