After a whirlwind of a weekend, things aren’t slowing down for Kelsey Plum.
The Phoenix Mercury announced she’s set to make her debut in Monday night’s game at the Chicago Sky (9 p.m. ET), her first since the Los Angeles Sparks traded the five-time WNBA All-Star guard to the Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first round pick and a 2028 second-round selection early Sunday morning.
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Plum was met with a surprise welcome from her new teammates as she arrived in Chicago at 11p.m. local time on Sunday, August 3. Her introductory press conference was held virtually around 5:30 p.m. Monday.
It was just Thursday that Plum was telling reporters she planned to return from an ankle injury for the Sparks as they visited the Portland Fire right at the WNBA trade deadline Sunday afternoon. During her introductory presser with the Mercury, she spoke about her quickly changing circumstances.
“I am where my feet are. It was Portland two nights ago and now it’s here. But that’s why I’m a professional,” Plum said. “You know, I’m paid to play basketball at the highest level, and that’s what I’m going to do tonight.”
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Plum said she expects to play no more than 20 minutes in her debut. She’ll wear the No. 0 with her new team after previously wearing No. 10, but some things will still feel familiar. Plum noted that she has experience playing under Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts and with Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas during their time with USA Basketball, which will help with the transition process.
With 14 games left in the regular season, Phoenix currently sits six games out from the last playoff spot with an 11-19 record.
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Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren is banking on the transition with Plum being seamless. On Monday, he cited the desire for a quicker incorporation of Plum as he described the choice to trade for her instead of waiting until free agency when her contract expires at the end of this season.
“The chance to get Kelsey into our 4 walls and have her feel what we’re all about, have her feel, our staff, our players, our organizational dynamic, was really important to us,” U’Ren said. “So we wanted to be aggressive in getting her here as early as possible.”
ESPN reported that Plum still plans on going through the full free agency process in the offseason. U’Ren said he’d prefer to keep his conversations with the guard private, but implied that he anticipates she’ll sign with Phoenix.
“We wouldn’t have done this if we didn’t think she would fit with our group now and moving forward,” U’Ren said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Kelsey Plum to suit up for Mercury before even touching down in Phoenix
