A trade-deadline acquisition and a debut in Chicago
Kelsey Plum was introduced as the newest member of the Phoenix Mercury on Monday evening, completing a midseason trade that sent Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick from Phoenix to the Los Angeles Sparks. The deal marked only the fourth time in WNBA history that an All-Star was traded in-season, and Mercury general manager Nick U'Ren said it was the product of "weeks and weeks of relationships and discussions." Plum had been with the Sparks after being moved in a three-way deal involving the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle before the 2025 season.
Plum described the preceding 48 hours as a "crazy" stretch that left her feeling caught in the Spider-Man "multiverse," and said she was "overwhelmed" by the speed of the move. She had been preparing to return from injury against Portland on Sunday before learning of the trade late Saturday night, then traveled from Portland to Chicago to join the Mercury late Sunday night.
What she delivered on the floor
Less than 24 hours after arriving, Plum suited up for Phoenix at Wintrust Arena and scored 20 points in 21 minutes off the bench, including a go-ahead three-pointer with less than a minute left. She went 3-for-5 from three-point range and added four assists. The performance lifted the Mercury to a 106-101 win over the Chicago Sky.
The game was Plum's first since she sustained a left lower-leg injury on June 21, and she joked pregame that having only one full practice since then — with the Sparks — combined with a few hours of preparation with Phoenix would make for a "cocktail of success."
How the teams stand after the result
The victory moved Phoenix up to 10th place in the WNBA standings, 5½ games out of a playoff spot with less than two months left in the season. The Sky dropped to 11th and six games back. Phoenix entered the day 11-19, 6 games behind the New York Liberty for the final postseason seed, and is trying to build on last season's run to the WNBA Finals, where it was swept by the Las Vegas Aces.
Sky coach Tyler Marsh called the loss damaging given that both teams are fighting for the same standing: "They came onto our home court and took one, so it's a credit to them." Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot, who recorded a double-double, said, "You score 101 points on your home floor, you're supposed to win."
Why Phoenix wanted her now
U'Ren said Phoenix coveted Plum because of her "skill, toughness, character and work ethic," and pointed to her ability to stretch the court, attack the paint and create plays as additions that would make the team "more competitive on a nightly basis." Coach Nate Tibbetts said, "This isn't just a 14- or 15-game rental in our mind; this is something we want to build upon."
Plum, who turns 31, is averaging career highs of 23.9 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 53% from the floor prior to her injury, figures that rank her second in the WNBA in scoring and sixth in assists. She is a five-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and former NCAA all-time leading scorer at Washington, a mark since surpassed by Caitlin Clark.
Familiarity with the roster and her next step
Plum has existing ties to key Mercury figures, having played for USA Basketball with Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas, and with Tibbetts serving as a national-team assistant. She said she is approaching her new environment with "a level of humility" and trust in her instincts, and noted "basketball is basketball."
Plum is on a one-year contract and will be a free agent after this season; reporting indicates Phoenix could still be in the mix as she goes through free agency. The Sky continue their homestand with two more games at Wintrust Arena as they try to keep their postseason hopes alive.
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