3 takeaways from Sparks preseason opener vs. Valkyries

There is plenty to unpack from the Sparks’ preseason win against the Valkyries.

It was a close contest between the Sparks and Valkyries on Tuesday, but Los Angeles came out on top, beating Golden State 83-82 in preseason action.

This was the first-ever game for the Valkyries, making this a historical moment in WNBA history.

The game was essentially a dress rehearsal for coach Lynne Roberts and the Sparks, as it’s the only contest they have before the regular season begins on May 16.

Here are three takeaways from Los Angeles’ preseason win.

Kelsey Plum is set up for a career year

The very first offensive possession for the Sparks, Plum worked on pick and roll with Dearica Hamby and scored a left-handed layup. It was a sign of things to come as Plum played for 24 minutes, took nine shots, including four 3-pointers, while also dishing out five assists.

She was in complete control of the offense, and if she has this kind of volume during the regular season, she will crush her career numbers.

While this is exactly the kind of guard play the Sparks were missing last year, Plum must control her game. She struggled with her 3-point shot, going 0-4 from deep and had a rough defensive night, getting beaten time and time again off the dribble.

Even so, she provides an offensive explosion and gives the Sparks a player they can rely on to run Roberts’ system.

Rickea Jackson is a sophomore to watch

Last year’s WNBA draft class included superstars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and even L.A.’s Cameron Brink. While her star isn’t as bright, Rickea is also a shining player.

She made the WNBA All-Rookie team and appears ready to hit the ground running in year two.

Jackson was in her offensive bag in this contest. She shot 50% from the field, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and was able to score on all three levels with ease.

If she can increase her 3-point attempts and improve on the 34% she shot from deep during her rookie campaign, she can quickly become one of the Sparks’ best offensive weapons.

In Tuesday’s win, she was exactly that, leading the team in scoring.

Sparks are a work in progress

Throughout training camp and even during her pregame remarks, Roberts stressed that the Sparks need to “buy into the process” to become the team they want to be.

While this was a generally positive game for the Sparks, it also had some negative aspects. Los Angeles shot a lot of 3-pointers but struggled to convert them. As a team, they went 8-29 from deep.

To start the third quarter, the offense evaporated and Golden State went on a 12-2 run, turning a comfortable game into an even contest entering the fourth.

These errors didn’t change the outcome only because the Valkyries were equally as bad.

Golden State went 6-28 from 3-point range and struggled with late-game execution. Los Angeles won’t always be playing an expansion team and other opponents will take advantage if they make similar mistakes when the games count.

For now, though, the Sparks won their preseason game and will return to Los Angeles with everyone healthy. At this point, that’s all any team can hope for.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.