"I got scratches on my face and body": Emotional Kelsey Plum launches no-holds-barred tirade after growing 'sick' of officials

Kelsey Plum was furious with the referees for what she perceived to be a lack of foul calls during the LA Sparks' overtime loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Monday.

Plum missed a 15-foot jumper with 2.0 seconds left in the fourth quarter after being pressured by Temi Fagbenle and Carl Leite, pushing the game into overtime. The Valkyries dominated the extra period 11-3 to walk away with an 89-81 win.

After the game, Plum took aim at the officiating.

“It’s f**king 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 every possession. They don’t call it. … Six free throws, and I’m playing 40 minutes, touching the paint almost every play. It’s absurd! It’s absurd!”

Kelsey Plum went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. She was 7-for-20, but was more efficient when attacking the rim. Plum was 3-for-7 inside the paint and repeatedly tested the Golden State Valkyries’ defense with her inside forays.

Plum was particularly aggressive in overtime but went 1-for-4. LA’s three points in extra time came off a Plum jumper and an Azura Stevens free throw. Dearica Hamby was the worst among the Sparks’ options on offense, missing all three attempts within three feet of the basket.

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Kelsey Plum and LA Sparks are top 3 in free-throw attempts in the WNBA

The Sparks improved their average to 22.1 free-throw attempts per game, tied for second place with the New York Liberty. They trail the Washington Mystics, who average 24.8 attempts per outing.

Kelsey Plum is second on the Sparks’ roster in free-throw attempts per game, averaging 5.6. Dearica Hamby leads the team with 7.0 tries per contest. Nobody else on the Sparks has more than four.

For the season, Hamby is 38-for-63, while Plum is 43-for-50.