Angel Reese may tower at 6-foot-3 with the presence to match, but Kelsey Plum needed only one slick move—and a pointed celebration—to make a loud statement on the court.
In a heated matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Chicago Sky on Sunday, Plum sliced through the defense, maneuvering around Reese to sink a right-handed scoop layup. Reese, in hot pursuit, stretched to swat the shot but came up empty. As the ball dropped through the net, Plum didn’t just take the points—she took the moment.
With the crowd reacting, Plum threw a bold “too small” gesture toward Reese, lowering her hand close to the floor in a taunt made famous by NFL receivers who outleap smaller defenders. It wasn’t just a jab—it was a message.
Plum, recently acquired by the Sparks from the Las Vegas Aces, is no stranger to the spotlight. A former No. 1 overall pick, three-time WNBA All-Star, and two-time league champion, she also held the NCAA scoring record before Caitlin Clark claimed it. Ironically, Plum had publicly supported Clark’s historic feat—adding an extra layer to Sunday’s drama.
Reese and Clark, of course, have their own history. The two clashed memorably in the 2023 NCAA Championship, where Reese and LSU emerged victorious over Iowa. That rivalry flared again in the WNBA season opener, when Clark delivered a hard foul to prevent a Reese layup, prompting Reese’s teammates to hold her back. The tension between them has lingered ever since.
Now, with Sunday’s showdown, it appears Kelsey Plum might be positioning herself as Reese’s next on-court nemesis.
Plum racked up 28 points and eight assists in the Sparks’ 91-78 win, handing the Sky their third straight loss to start the season. Reese, despite recording a solid double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, couldn’t shift the momentum for Chicago.
“We have to stay together,” Reese said postgame. “It’s tough losing three in a row.”
While Reese currently leads the league in rebounds with 13.7 per game, her shot-blocking prowess hasn’t been as prominent—something Plum may have been all too happy to highlight with her well-timed taunt. The Sparks move on with growing confidence, while the Sky and their star rookie continue to search for their first win—and perhaps a little redemption.
