Kelsey Plum admits she 'rehabbed like a maniac' to get back on court

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The Los Angeles Sparks may be getting their biggest star back just in time. After missing the last three games with a right ankle sprain, Kelsey Plum is listed as probable for Friday night's matchup against the Dallas Wings, a significant development for a Sparks team that has struggled to maintain momentum without its leading scorer.

While the injury forced Plum to the sidelines, it certainly didn't keep her from working. Speaking to reporters Thursday, the four-time WNBA All-Star revealed the lengths she went to in order to accelerate her recovery and return to the court as quickly as possible.

"I have been just rehabbing like a maniac, sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber, red-lighting my way back," Plum said.

It's the type of commitment Sparks fans have come to expect from one of the league's most competitive players.

Sparks receive much-needed boost

Los Angeles enters Friday's game against Dallas with a 4-5 record after dropping two of three games during Plum's absence. The veteran guard suffered an ankle injury during practice on May 26 and did not travel with the team on its recent road trip, choosing instead to focus entirely on treatment and rehabilitation.

That decision appears to be paying off. Sparks coach Lynne Roberts told reporters that Plum was a full participant in Thursday's practice and looked ready to return.

"She looks great," Roberts said. "I think she'll be ready."

For a team trying to end a lengthy playoff drought, the timing couldn't be better.

Plum has been one of the WNBA's best players

Before the injury, Plum wasn't just playing well. She was playing at an MVP-caliber level. Through six games, she led the WNBA in scoring at 26.8 points per game while shooting an eye-popping 58.9% from the field and 48.8% from three-point range.

Her offensive explosion has been the driving force behind much of Los Angeles' early success and has helped transform expectations around the franchise. The Sparks have not reached the postseason since 2020, but Plum's arrival last season helped create optimism that the organization is finally turning the corner.

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Looking beyond herself

Despite her individual success, Plum made it clear her focus remains on the bigger picture. The former champion said there may have been a silver lining to her absence, allowing younger players and other rotation pieces to gain valuable experience within Lynne Roberts' system.

"I think it's a blessing in disguise," Plum said. "People get opportunity to figure out a little bit more of coach's system, get a little bit more reps and more responsibility and more feel."

Now, with her return potentially arriving Friday night, Plum says her mindset is simple.

"I'm just going to insert myself back and do whatever the team needs. I just want to win."

For the Sparks, that's exactly what they were hoping to hear.