Dearica Hamby dismisses Indiana Fever speculation, signaling Kelsey Plum remains the Sparks' indispensable engine. Their chemistry fuels Los Angeles' contention bid.
The WNBA’s long-awaited CBA breakthrough has finally shifted the conversation back to basketball business, and with free agency around the corner, speculation is already beginning to swirl.
One of the first names at the center of that chatter is Kelsey Plum. The Los Angeles Sparks guard is set to be among the most sought-after players on the market, which naturally opened the door to hypothetical landing spots.
Among them, the Indiana Fever emerged as a popular suggestion online. That idea, however, had Dearica Hamby laughing.
When a social media post floated the possibility of Plum heading to Indiana, Hamby responded with a blunt “Plz. lol.” It was brief, but the message was unmistakable. From her perspective, the idea of her teammate leaving Los Angeles is more fantasy than reality.
That stance is not surprising when viewed through the lens of what the veteran guard has meant to the Sparks.
Since arriving via a multi-team trade that cost Los Angeles the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Plum has taken on the role the franchise envisioned. She averaged 19.5 points and 5.7 assists last season while handling one of the heaviest workloads in the league.
More importantly, she gave the Sparks a dependable offensive initiator, something they had lacked during their recent playoff drought.
Even beyond the numbers, her presence has helped stabilize a roster that is still in the process of reshaping its identity under head coach Lynne Roberts. There is a clear sense that Los Angeles is building something more coherent, and Plum sits at the center of that effort.
That continuity has also translated to the international stage. During the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, the All-Star guard played a key role in Team USA’s unbeaten 5-0 run. In the closing win over Spain, she poured in 18 points while continuing an efficient stretch from beyond the arc, finishing the tournament shooting 50 percent from three.
Hamby, sharing the same national setup, added 14 points and seven rebounds in that contest, further highlighting the on-court chemistry between the two.
It is the kind of partnership teams rarely look to disrupt voluntarily.
Of course, the broader free agency landscape remains unpredictable. A new CBA, an expanding salary structure, and a large pool of available players are expected to create movement across the league.
However, teams like Indiana, armed with young talent and cap flexibility, will undoubtedly explore marquee additions.
But not every rumor carries equal weight. In Plum’s case, the fit in Los Angeles extends beyond production. She is not just a scorer or a playmaker filling a temporary gap. She is the engine of a team trying to climb back into contention.
Hamby’s reaction, while lighthearted on the surface, reflects that reality. Behind the humor was a simple truth. The Sparks are not in a position to let their centerpiece walk, and there is little indication that she is eager to leave.