Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks spoiled the Golden State Valkyries’ regular-season debut with an 84-67 victory Friday at the Chase Center.
Los Angeles outscored Golden State 18-7 in the final period.
Plum produced a game-high 37 points, along with six assists and five steals in her regular-season debut with the Sparks. She played 40 minutes and shot 11-of-19 from the field and 4-for-6 from the 3-point line. She also made all 11 of her free throw attempts.
The Sparks had three other starters score double-digit points, including 14 from Dearica Hamby.
Sparks vs. Valkyries highlights
Final: Sparks 84, Valkyries 67
STATS:Check out complete stats from the game here.
Q3: Sparks 66, Valkyries 60
The Sparks led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter before the Valkyries battled back to make it just a 6-point game at the end of the quarter.
Julie Vanloo caught fire in the quarter with 3-point shots to help Golden State close the gap. Vanloo shot 4-for-7 from long range and finished with 14 points off the bench. Tiffany Hayes was closing in on a double-double with 17 points and six rebounds.
Kelsey Plum has a game-high 28 points along with six assists and four steals for the Sparks.
Halftime: Sparks 42, Valkyries 39
Kelsey Plum had a team-high 11 points and five assists in the first half for the Sparks. Azura Stevens added 10 points and four rebounds.
Terri Fagbenle had 13 points and four rebounds for the Valkyries. Tiffany Hayes added 11 points and three rebounds.
1Q: Valkyries 20, Sparks 19
Temi Fagbenle and Tiffany Hayes had seven points and two rebounds each for the Valkyries. Kayla Thornton finished with four points and two rebounds.
Azura Stevens shot 3-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line to finish the quarter with eight points for the Sparks. She also had three defensive rebounds, three steals and a block. Kelsey Plum had six points, two assists and two steals.
Rae Burrell carried off with leg injury
Sparks forward Rae Burrell suffered a right knee injury with 3:04 left in the first quarter and needed assistance as she was carried back to the locker room.
The team announced that Burrell would not return to the game (right lower extremity).
Valkyries’ first franchise possession
Kayla Thornton scored the first points in Valkyries’ history with a 17-foot two-point shot. The ball was exchanged for another ball during a shot clock turnover and is expected to go to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to be displayed.
Los Angeles Sparks’ starting lineup
Kelsey Plum, Odyssey Sims, Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens make up the Sparks’ starting lineup for the season opener against the Valkyries.
Golden State Valkyries’ starting lineup
Veronica Burton, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Kayla Thornton and Temi Fagbenle will start in the Valkyries’ first regular-season game as a franchise.
What time is the Sparks vs. Valkyries game?
The Los Angeles Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries will tip off at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, May 16, at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
How to watch Sparks vs. Valkyries: TV, stream
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Chase Center in San Francisco
TV: ION
Stream: Fubo, WNBA League Pass (free league pass preview)
Watch the Valkyries vs. Sparks live with Fubo