The Los Angeles Sparks traded five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury hours before the WNBA trade deadline, sending one of the league's most explosive backcourt scorers to a franchise desperate to climb back into playoff contention.
The deal, finalized late Saturday night and first reported by ESPN, sends Plum to Phoenix in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2027 draft, forward Monique Akoa Makani and a second-round selection in 2028. It was confirmed to the Associated Press by a person familiar with the agreement, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Plum will wear No. 0 for the Mercury and is due to become a free agent at the end of the season, adding urgency to a Phoenix side that sits 11-19, six games adrift of the New York Liberty in eighth place — the final playoff spot. New York edged Phoenix 94-92 on Saturday.
The guard had been sidelined since June 21 with a lower leg injury, practiced earlier this week and was expected to play Sunday against Portland before the trade went through. Before getting hurt she was averaging a career-best 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game, and Los Angeles has struggled without her, losing its last six games.
“Kelsey is one of the league’s most dynamic players,” Mercury GM Nick U’Ren said. “She is a fierce competitor with a winning mentality who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Her combination of shooting, explosiveness and decision-making allows her to create offense at a high level and makes her one of the league’s most complete guards. We have wanted Kelsey here for a long time, and we’re excited to finally bring her to Phoenix as we continue to build on our foundation.”
The Mercury are coming off a WNBA Finals appearance last season but have seldom resembled that team despite returning stars Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper. Akoa Makani has averaged 9.4 points and 2.5 assists in 16 games this season, missing time earlier in the campaign with a hamstring issue.
Plum's time in Los Angeles was brief. The Sparks acquired her before last season in a blockbuster deal that sent the No. 2 overall pick to Seattle, hoping to accelerate a rebuilding effort; Seattle used that selection on Dominique Malonga, who became an All-Star this season. Phoenix's next game is Monday at Chicago.
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