Averaging 23.9 points a night, Kelsey Plum has been one of the WNBA’s most explosive scorers this season. So there was never much debate over her fifth All-Star selection. However, with the annual exhibition game now just two weeks away, the bigger question is whether she’ll even be healthy enough to suit up. With that uncertainty hanging over the Sparks guard, analyst Brian Hamilton believes Phoenix Mercury star Kahleah Copper could be in line to replace her.
“She might be there, right? Is Kelsey Plum going to be ready to go? Is she gonna want to even go if it’s right at that sort of four-five week recovery timetable? Do you take that risk?” Hamilton said on the latest episode of No Offseason. “So maybe looking at Kahleah Copper or somebody else sliding into that spot because there’s going to be an opening for injury.”
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When Plum suffered a lower-left leg injury last month, the Sparks announced that she would be sidelined for at least 10 games before she could be reevaluated.
So with that timeline, she is currently expected to return around the All-Star break, which is exactly why Hamilton questioned whether the veteran would even want to risk playing in the exhibition, considering the Sparks would have cleared her in the first place.
Even though Kelsey Plum is already on the All-Star reserves roster, under the WNBA rules, the Commissioner can name her replacement if she is injured. If that scenario plays out, Copper would be one of the strongest cases to fill the vacancy.
The reigning WNBA champion is averaging 20.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game this season while serving as the focal point of Phoenix’s offense. Her biggest statement came on June 13 against the Sparks, when she erupted for a career-high 41 points.
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Of course, none of this means Kelsey Plum is certain to miss the All-Star Game. For now, all of this is mere speculation, and the Sparks still have roughly two weeks before they need to make any decision. But with plenty of basketball still left in the 2026 season, the long-term health of their star guard will certainly factor into their final call.
Still, Copper isn’t the only player who could benefit if a replacement is needed, either. Alyssa Thomas, Brittney Sykes, and Carla Leite have also emerged as possible candidates.
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