Kelsey Plum Traded to Mercury from Sparks, Latest Rumors on Full Return Ahead of WNBA Deadline

The Phoenix Mercury snagged the top name on the WNBA trade market Saturday night.

ESPN's Shams Charania and Kendra Andrews reported they're acquiring guard Kelsey Plum from the Los Angeles Sparks for guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder.

Plum is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists this season. She has been out since June 21 because of a leg injury.

The five-time All-Star said she was expecting to suit up for L.A. in Sunday's matchup with the Portland Fire, albeit on a minutes restriction. She could be available on Monday when the Mercury take on the Chicago Sky.

The trade signals another reset for the Sparks, who are 10-17 and on track to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season. They fired general manager Raegan Pebley in mid-July.

Plum is a free agent in the offseason, so she was a logical candidate to trade now. Granted, this puts a bow on what was a disastrous deal to land her in the first place.

The Sparks acquired Plum at the cost of the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, which the Seattle Storm used on Dominique Malonga, who was an All-Star in her second season.

The Mercury (11-19) are actually below Los Angeles in the standings, but they were left with little choice but to double down when they're built to win now. Kahleah Copper, 31, and Alyssa Thomas, 34, aren't getting any younger.

Phoenix had a glaring need for a guard to ease the playmaking burden on Thomas as well. She's the team leader in assists with 8.3 per game, and Akoa Makani was the only other player averaging more than two.

From a scoring perspective, the Mercury also suffered a blow when Jovana Nogić, who was third in points (10.4), left the team for personal reasons.

Plum may not be enough to get Phoenix back in the WNBA Finals, but it was clear the roster had to improve prior to the deadline to have any hope of a deep playoff run.