.jpg?w=1280 "Trade Ideas")
WNBA Trade Ideas for Kelsey Plum and More Ahead of 2026 Deadline
The WNBA trade deadline is a month away, with teams having until August 2 to make roster changes before the playoff push.
While in-season trades don't happen nearly as often as they do in the NBA, history suggests we'll likely see at least some activity before the deadline.
These trade ideas aren't based on any reporting or inside knowledge into each team's deadline plans. The goal of this exercise is to create realistic trade scenarios based on team needs, roster construction and position in the playoff race.
However, don't expect every franchise to be active. Minnesota has little reason to make a move, while salary-cap limitations make upgrades difficult for New York, Atlanta and Indiana.ย
Golden State Valkyries
1 of 5
Golden State receives: Kelsey Plum
Los Angeles receives: Janelle Salaรผn, Kaitlyn Chen, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick
A player as good as Kelsey Plum has never been traded midseason, but if you're Golden State, you have to at least make a call here. The 5'8" guard is having one of the best all-around scoring seasons by a guard ever, averaging 23.9 points on 63.6 percent from two, 38.3 percent from three and 80.6 percent at the free-throw line.
The Valkyries have built an elite defense, but they still lack a go-to scoring option to push them into legitimate title contention. Those shot creation issues have shown up in the clutch, where Golden State's 95.2 offensive rating ranks No. 14, ahead of only Connecticut.ย
With Plum, there's no question about what she can bring late in games. Over the last two seasons, nobody has averaged more points per game in the clutch (3.8), and she's done it on great efficiency (59.5% true shooting).
Golden State also has the defensive infrastructure to cover for her weaknesses on that end. Veronica Burton is a fantastic point-of-attack defender, Gabby Williams is the best wing defender in the world and Kiah Stokes has been the best rim protector in the league on a per-minute basis.ย
The bigger question is whether Los Angeles would actually move her. The Sparks are 8-10 and only a game out of the 8-seed, but Plum is currently sidelined for at least 10 games with a leg injury. Where will the Sparks be in the playoff race in a month? And is it even worth pushing for a playoff spot with the risk of losing Plum for nothing in free agency if she doesn't re-sign?
On top of that, does the Los Angeles front office and coaching staff have enough job security to trade Plum and survive another season? That's likely the biggest question here.
If the Sparks did explore a deal, a return built around Janelle Salaรผn, Kaitlyn Chen (or Justฤ Jocytฤ) and two unprotected first-round picks would be solid value for an older star on an expiring contract. Salaรผn is only 24 and already the best 6'3" shooter in the league, while Chen looks like a real rotation guard in her second year, too.
Overall, Golden State's front office is working under a five-year championship mandate from ownership, so if they believe the roster around Plum is already in place to win a title right now, it may be worth doing whatever it takes to get a deal done.
Dallas Wings, Part 1
2 of 5
Dallas receives: Kennedy Burke
Connecticut receives: Arike Ogunbowale
Arike Ogunbowale simply isn't an ideal fit on this Dallas roster, due to her shot selection, two-point scoring struggles and defensive limitations at 5'8". This season, she's averaging a career-low 13.5 points on 33.8 percent shooting from the field.
When Ogunbowale is off the court, the Wings are 6.4 points better per 100 possessions on offense and 4.7 points better on defense. That swings their net rating from a neutral mark in her minutes to +11.1 when she sits.
If Dallas does consider a midseason deal, the Connecticut Sun feels like the most realistic landing spot.ย They have the cap flexibility to absorb Ogunbowale's contract, and Kennedy Burke could be interesting to Dallas in a return.
Burke is on an expiring deal, compared to Ogunbowale's two-year contract, and brings value as a 6'1" combo forward who would give the Wings more wing depth (pun intended). While she's shooting just under 30 percent from three this season, her shot came back around a bit in June (34.6%) and she knocked down over 40 percent from deep a season ago in New York.
From Connecticut's perspective, Ogunbowale would actually be a solid backcourt fit alongside Leรฏla Lacan. She could benefit from a change of scenery, especially in a role where she would have higher usage and primary creation responsibilities.
Lacan also helps offset some of Ogunbowale's weaknesses as a quick processor, efficient two-point scorer and a high-level point-of-attack defender.
For what it's worth, Ogunbowale's brother, Dare, plays for the Houston Texans in the NFL, and the Sun are set to relocate to Houston in 2027.
Dallas Wings, Part 2
3 of 5
Dallas receives: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
New York receives: Alysha Clark, 2027 first-round pick (via LV)
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has struggled this season after missing all of 2025 with a meniscus injury. The 32-year-old wing is averaging just 5.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per gameโall lowest marks since her 2019 season in Indiana.
She is also now behind Rebekah Gardner, and did not see the floor in New York's Commissioner's Cup win over Las Vegas.
For a contender like New York, moving her midseason is unlikely since it likely benefits other teams in the title race. However, if Laney-Hamilton wanted a larger role on a playoff team elsewhere, Dallas is the only team that makes sense for both sides.
While she's no longer the same elite athlete she was in her prime pre-injuries, Laney-Hamilton still brings value as a strong defender and a high-feel player on both ends of the floor. Her shooting slump (26% from three) also feels due for positive regression, and she would provide much-needed wing depth for Dallas.
On the New York side, Alysha Clark is there for salary-matching purposes, while the main asset would be a 2027 first-round pick from Las Vegas that Dallas previously acquired in the NaLyssa Smith deal. That would give New York additional draft capital, including two late first-rounders in 2027, creating more flexibility to move up in the draft or roster two rookies.
Washington Mystics
4 of 5
Washington receives: Natisha Hiedeman
Seattle receives: Georgia Amoore, 2027 second-round pick (via WAS)
The Washington Mystics sit at 9-9 and currently hold the No. 8 spot in the standings. They're only a couple of wins out of No. 5, but also just a few losses away from dropping to No. 11. If they want to make a real playoff push, Natisha Hiedeman could be a veteran guard worth exploring.
Hiedeman is in the midst of a career year in Seattle, averaging 15.6 points (tied for No. 19 in the league) and 4.7 assists while shooting 38.3% from three on six attempts per game.
She would address two major needs for Washington: reliable guard play and high-level pull-up shooting. The Mystics' point guard play has been among the worst in league history, and as a team they're shooting just 29.5% from three (No. 14 in the WNBA).
If Washington isn't willing to move on from Amoore just yet, they could involve rookie forward Cassandre Prosper. Another package would be moving Lucy Olsen paired with an additional second-round pick.
Las Vegas Aces
5 of 5
Las Vegas receives: Marรญa Conde
Toronto receives: Stephanie Talbot, 2027 third-round pick, 2028 first-round pick
What if Stephanie Talbot actually hit threes? Well, you'd have Marรญa Conde. At 29 years old, the Spanish wing finally came to the WNBA, and is averaging 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds on 40 percent shooting from three in her first season in Toronto.
On paper, a first and third-round pick might feel like an overpay for Conde, but context matters. Las Vegas doesn't prioritize development, and if they want to pry away a key rotation piece from a Toronto team fighting for the No. 8 seed, it likely takes a significant package to even get the conversation started. Even then, there's a chance Toronto just hangs up or asks for more.
Given Talbot's poor play and Jewell Loyd's age-based regression, the Aces could use a cleaner answer as their fifth starter. If Las Vegas wants an upgrade, Conde's gravity as an off-ball shooter and quick processing would be a seamless fit in Becky Hammon's scheme.
It's always worth noting A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray are so good at basketball that it may not matter who is around them, and the Aces could just end up repeating anyways.
.png?w=600 "Latest Free-Agency Moves โ๏ธ")
