Kelsey Plum has been traded to the Phoenix Mercury, the team announced late Saturday night, just hours before the WNBA trade deadline. The Los Angeles Sparks sent the five-time All-Star guard to Phoenix in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round draft pick, and a 2028 second-round pick. The deal brings a high-profile player to a Mercury team striving for a postseason berth.
Plum, a two-time WNBA champion, had not played since June 21 due to a lower left leg injury. Before her injury, she was averaging a career-high 23.9 points and 6.4 assists through 12 games, and had led the league in scoring earlier in the season. She was expected to return Sunday against the Portland Fire with a minutes restriction, though her availability for Phoenix's Monday game against the Chicago Sky is uncertain.
Her tenure with the Sparks lasted a season and a half. Los Angeles acquired Plum before the 2025 season, hoping she would help accelerate a rebuild centered around Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. However, the Sparks missed the playoffs in 2025 and currently hold a 10-17 record, having lost six consecutive games. The team has gone 2-9 during Plum’s recent absence and is in danger of missing the postseason for a sixth straight year. Los Angeles also parted ways with general manager Raegan Pebley in July.
Plum was reportedly not planning to re-sign with the Sparks as she was set to become a free agent after the season, making her a prominent trade candidate. The New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream had also expressed interest.
She now joins a Phoenix team with an 11-19 record, six games behind the eighth-place Liberty for the final playoff spot. Plum is expected to provide immediate scoring, playmaking, and championship experience to the Mercury, potentially alleviating some offensive pressure on Alyssa Thomas, who leads the team in assists.
This marks the fourth instance in WNBA history where an All-Star player has been traded during the season.