Kelsey Plum is a member of the Phoenix Mercury. The Los Angeles Sparks traded the two-time WNBA champion to Phoenix on Sunday for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
The trade is the most important of the season, and it’s only the fourth time in league history an All-Star has been traded midseason.
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Images of her arrival at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on Tuesday, where the Mercury is congregating ahead of their encounter against the Chicago Sky later the same day, showed her new teammates and coaches welcoming her.
The Mercury players welcomed her with hugs and an arrangement of white roses.
Phoenix Mercury’s front office welcomes Kelsey Plum to her new team
Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren welcomed Kelsey Plum to her new team on Sunday via a statement in which he praised the point guard.
“Kelsey is one of the league’s most dynamic players,” U’Ren said in a statement. “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.”
Plum hasn’t played since June 21, when she suffered a lower leg injury. She was expected to return to the court on Sunday, when the Los Angeles Sparks took on the Portland Fire, although it’s unknown if she’ll be available for the Mercury’s game against Chicago on Monday.
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The five-time All-Star is on a short-term exchange with Phoenix as things stand, with her contract running out at the end of the season. She still intends to go into full free agency at the end of the campaign, although sources say that a long-term deal with her new team is not out of the question.
Kelsey Plum is averaging 23.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season. Phoenix is her third WNBA franchise, having arrived in the pros as the first overall pick of the 2017 WNBA draft by the then-San Antonio Stars. She was traded from the Las Vegas Aces to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2025.
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