LOS ANGELES -- Sparks Coach Lynne Roberts always preached a 40-minute game.
The problem on Monday night was that the game went 45 instead due to overtime. The Sparks ran out of steam in the extra period and the Valkyries came out with the duke, 89-81.
It was a back and forth game between the two California WNBA teams. A late Kelsey Plum three put the Sparks up, 78-76, before Carla Leite made a finger roll to tie the game with 25.1 seconds left. Plum's floater fell short and the game went to overtime. From there, G. State outscored Los Angeles, 11-3, to come away with the victory.
"We defended really well. Where we got beat was in the O-boards (offensive rebounds)," Coach Roberts said. "We did a good job forcing them to take some long contested twos and some tough challenged threes. And they had 17 offensive rebounds. They didn't shoot it that much better than we did. Neither team had a tremendous shooting night. But if you get 17 second chances, you're probably going to win."
When Plum and Rickea Jackson were asked about the final play in regulation, Plum went on a rant about not getting calls.
This is probably all I need to post tonight from the Sparks’ presser. Kelsey Plum rants about her lack of calls. pic.twitter.com/brtPDMvQSu
— Rey-Rey (@TheNoLookPass) June 10, 2025
"I'm gonna get fined for saying this but I drive more than anyone in the league. So to shoot six free throws is (expletive) absurd," Plum sounded off. "I got scratches on my face. I got scratches on my body. And these guards are getting these ticky-tack fouls. And I'm sick of it. I get fouled like that every possession. Rickea is fouled like that on the post every time and they don't call it. I don't know what else to do. It's really frustrating, though.
"There were multiple shots at the end of the game... either into the third, into the fourth where they're just coming in, (expletive) swinging. And they just don't call anything. I don't understand how that's... six free throws! I'm playing 40 minutes, touching the paint almost every play... is absurd. It's absurd! I'll get fined for that and that's fine. I needed to make more shots late game but they're fouling the (expletive) out of me every single play. I'm very frustrated with that. And I'm sick of it! I'm sick of it! I don't know what I need to do. I talk to the refs nice, I pray before every game but, like, (expletive), I'm over it."
Coach Roberts pointed out that Plum only got two free throws from attacking the basket as the rest of the free throws were from a three-pointer and a defensive three-second technical. Coach said that she might get fined, too, although Plum offered to pay for it.
What was absurd, though, was the offensive rebounds Coach Roberts mentioned. It was a major 17-6 advantage by the Valkyries. The overall rebounding was 49-34, Golden State. In an ugly game where making buckets was more of a premium (Valkyries shot .400 while Sparks were at .389), the offensive boards were significant.
The Sparks were still in it in overtime until Kayla Thornton made a three-pointer with 38.6 seconds left to give the women warriors an 87-81 lead. That pretty much put the game away.
Plum led the Sparks with 24 points and 7 assists while Dearica Hamby went for 20 points and 9 rebounds. On the other side, Janelle Salaun had 21 points and 8 boards while Kayla Thornton went for 18 points and 11 rebounds. Temi Fagbenle also had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds (eight were on the offensive end). Carla Leite came off the bench to score 15.
The Sparks are now 3-7 overall and 1-2 in the Commissioner's Cup. They will have a two-game road trip and it starts in Las Vegas on Wednesday.