The Los Angeles Sparks have traded five-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury in a blockbuster move hours before the trade deadline, ESPN reports. This is just the fourth time in league history that an All-Star has been traded midseason.
The Mercury are sending Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-rounder to the Sparks in exchange for Plum, who was the top trade target in the league leading up to the trade deadline at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Kelsey Plum has only played in 12 games this season due to ankle and lower leg injuries, but through June, she was averaging a career-high 23.9 points and 6.4 assists on 52.7/38.3/80.6 shooting splits. The Washington alum was named to her fifth All-Star team this year despite her limited availability.
The Sparks had listed Plum as "probable" for their Sunday afternoon game against the Fire, indicating that she was close to returning to the court. However, the trade now means that she will make her season debut for the Mercury instead.
Plum was picked No. 1 overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars and moved with the franchise to Las Vegas in 2018, becoming a key part of the Aces' first two championships in 2022 and 2023. She was traded to the Sparks before the 2025 season.
The Sparks have gone 2-9 since Plum's injury and currently sit in 11th place at 10-17, five and a half games back from the eighth and final playoff spot. The team fired general manager Raegan Pebley last month, and Plum, who signed a one-year, $999,999 contract in the offseason, was not expected to re-sign with the team.
The Mercury, who are 12th in the standings and six games back from the playoffs, are hoping that Plum's addition will give them some much-needed offense. However, even if they win all 14 of their remaining games, they would still need a lot of help from other teams to make the playoffs.
The trade has been met with criticism from some, who feel that the Mercury gave up too much in exchange for a 14-game rental. The Sparks, on the other hand, have been praised for getting a decent haul in Monique Akoa Makani and the draft picks.
The Sparks will now move forward without Plum, who was a key part of their team. The team will have to rely on other players to fill the void left by her departure.
The Mercury will look to Plum to help them make a push for the playoffs, but it remains to be seen whether they can overcome their current position in the standings. With only 14 games left to play, the odds are slim that they will make a deep run in the playoffs.
The next few weeks will be crucial for the Mercury as they try to make a push for the playoffs. They will face the Sky on Monday night at 9 p.m. ET, and will have to come out strong if they want to make a run.
Source: CBS