Sparks Star Took Extreme Measures to Expedite Injury Recovery

Los Angeles Sparks All-Star guard Kelsey Plum was unstoppable through the first six games of the 2026 WNBA season.

Plum led the WNBA in scoring at 26.8 points per game while shooting a career-high 58.9% from the field, including 48.8% from 3. Against the Las Vegas Aces - her former team with which she won two WNBA titles - on May 23, Plum put up 38 points on an astonishing 70.6% shooting and nine assists.

Then, injury derailed her three days later.

Plum sprained her ankle during practice and, at the time, the Sparks announced that she would be “re-evaluated in one week.”

Plum did everything in her power to return as soon as possible, according to Sparks beat reporter John W. Davis.

“Kelsey Plum told me she's been sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber and undergoing red light therapy so that she will be ready to play against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings,” Davis wrote.

Plum missed three games, and the Sparks (4-5) went 1-2 in her absence. Whatever she did worked because she will return to the Sparks’ lineup for their WNBA Commissioner’s Cup clash with the Wings (6-3) in Los Angeles on Friday night.

“It just feels like a security blanket now that she’s back,” Sparks star forward Cameron Brink said Friday afternoon. “She’s the head of the snake for us. She’s kind of our key player for everything that we do and our leading voice, so I feel very good that she’s back.”

It’ll take everyone for the Sparks to pull off the win over the Wings. Dallas has been the surprise team so far - having finished with a league-worst 10-34 record last year and already winning six games this season. The Wings have won five of its last six, while the Sparks are 3-3 in their last six.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 8:19 PM.