Kelsey Plum explodes at WNBA refs over dark arts from rival players:
Kelsey Plum explodes at WNBA refs over dark arts from rival players: 'I've got scratches all over my body'
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WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE
By ALEX RASKIN and REUTERS
Published: 11:20 EDT, 10 June 2025 | Updated: 11:30 EDT, 10 June 2025
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Frustrated by a lack of calls from WNBA officials during the Los Angeles Sparks' double-overtime loss to the Golden State Valkyries, All-Star Kelsey Plum unleashed a profane tirade at refs on Monday night while acknowledging the fine she's likely to incur.
'I'm going to get fined for saying this, but I drive more than anyone in the league,' began Plum, who is in her first season with LA after winning two titles in Las Vegas. 'So, to shoot six free throws is f****ing absurd. I got scratches on my face, I got scratches on my body, and these guards on the other team get these ticky-tack fouls, and I'm sick of it.
'I get fouled like that on every possession,' she continued before referencing one teammate. Rickea [Jackson] gets fouled like that in the post all the time, and they don't call it. I don't know what else to do. It's really frustrating, though.
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'There are multiple shots at the end of the game, either going into the third, into the fourth, where they're just coming out and just f***ing swinging, and they just don't call anything. I don't understand how that's... six free throws.'
Plum wasn't done there.
'I'm playing 40 minutes, touching the paint on almost every play - it's absurd,' she said. 'It's absurd. So I'm saying I'll get fined for that, and that's fine, but I mean, and I needed to make more shots like late-game, but they're fouling the s*** 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've talked to the refs nice, I pray before the game, like, f***, I'm over it.'
Plum reacts as she is fouled between Janelle Salaun and Veronica Burton of the Valkyries
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Plum reacts as she is fouled between Janelle Salaun and Veronica Burton of the Valkyries
Plum said she drives to the hole more than anyone, but doesn't get rewarded for it by the refs
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Plum said she drives to the hole more than anyone, but doesn't get rewarded for it by the refs
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WNBA officiating has been under intense scrutiny since Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark arrived in the league last season, igniting both league popularity and controversy over how the game is called. Some fans have accused WNBA refs of failing to protect Clark, while others claim she’s benefitted more from officiating than any player.
Last month, Fever coach Stephanie White criticized league officiating after a loss to Washington.
"Obviously, I think we can get better in certain areas as far as how we call the game, consistency with how we call the game,’ she said. ‘Are we going to say that we want a free-flowing offensive game, or are we going to have tough, grind-out physical games? And whatever way it is, the players will adjust and coaches will adjust but we can’t have it be one way one quarter and another way another quarter.
"I don’t think collectively as a whole the league has to step in and do something, I just think that there has to be some improvements in certain areas."
Plum led all scorers with 24 points, and she came inches away from ending the game in regulation.
The former University of Washington star had a good look in the paint just before the buzzer, driving into the lane off of a pump-fake from the top of the key. Unfortunately, her floater fell short, and Golden State's Kayla Thornton secured the rebound to ensure overtime.
Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks speaks with Dearica Hamby #5 during the game
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Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks speaks with Dearica Hamby #5 during the game
Thornton and Tami Fagbenle each recorded a double-double while leading the visiting Valkyries to an 89-81 overtime win over LA on Monday.
Thornton put an exclamation point on her 18-point, 11-rebound performance in the final minute of the extra period when she came up with a board in traffic while Golden State nursed an 84-81 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Los Angeles defenders attempted to trap Carla Leite off of a pick-and-roll. Thornton popped to the left wing and was wide-open for a clutch 3-pointer when Leite found her with a high-arcing pass.
Thornton's triple with 38.6 seconds left effectively put away a second consecutive win for the expansion Valkyries (4-5).
Fagbenle finished with 14 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, four steals and four blocked shots, while Janelle Salaun led Golden State with 21 points.
Kayla Thornton #5 of the Golden State Valkyries grabs a rebound away from Azura Stevens #23 of the Los Angeles Sparks during an 89-81 Golden State Valkyries win
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Kayla Thornton #5 of the Golden State Valkyries grabs a rebound away from Azura Stevens #23 of the Los Angeles Sparks during an 89-81 Golden State Valkyries win
Los Angeles (3-7) managed just one field goal in the extra frame, which came on a Plum jumper. Plum also dished a game-high seven assists.
Dearica Hamby was the only other Sparks player to score in double figures, posting 20 points. She added a team-high nine rebounds.
Five Golden State scorers reached double figures, with Leite going for 15 points off the bench and Monique Billings adding 10 in reserve duty. Veronica Burton added another nine points for Golden State, with seven coming at the free-throw line.
Burton's lone made field goal came early in the overtime to give Golden State the lead for good after Los Angeles struck first on an Azura Stevens free throw. The Valkyries limited Stevens to just six points on 1-of-7 shooting from the floor.
The contest was part of the Commissioner's Cup, with Golden State improving to 2-2 while Los Angeles slipped to 1-2.
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