Plum Addresses Trade Speculation as Storm Owner Faces WNBA Suspension

Plum addresses trade talk ahead of Sunday deadline

Five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum said Thursday she is "not taking anything personal" about growing speculation that the Los Angeles Sparks could move her before Sunday's WNBA trade deadline. Plum, who has been out since June 21 with a lower left leg injury, returned to practice Thursday and said she intends to suit up for the Sparks' road game against the Portland Fire, which tips 30 minutes after the 3 p.m. ET deadline.

The Sparks (10-17) are mired in a six-game losing streak and have gone 2-9 during Plum's absence, who also missed time earlier in the season with an ankle injury. She is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game — both career highs — in 12 appearances and earlier led the league in scoring. ESPN reported the Sparks have fielded calls about possible deals and that conversations have picked up this week, but Los Angeles' asking price has been too high for interested teams. Sources told ESPN there is a real possibility Plum remains with the Sparks through the deadline and could leave in free agency next winter.

Sparks executive Farhan Zaidi, serving as a special advisor to owner Mark Walter, told the Los Angeles Times that the franchise might be willing to change course after this disappointing 2026 campaign. "We pushed in a lot of chips this year, and we had good reason to do that, but the reality is it hasn't gone as we'd hoped or expected," Zaidi said. "We have to be open for anything. Everything has to be on the table for us."

WNBA suspends Storm co-owner after fan confrontation

The WNBA fined and suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton from attending the team's next five home games after an exchange with two teenage fans during Tuesday's game against the Indiana Fever, the league confirmed to Reuters on Thursday. Keaton was also fined an undisclosed amount, a punishment the Seattle Times reported is believed to be the harshest the WNBA has ever given specifically to a team owner — a higher bar than the $5,000 fine the Storm received in 2024 for failing to fulfill mandatory postgame media availability.

The fans had brought signs into Climate Pledge Arena supporting Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who had voiced support in an ESPN article last week for barring transgender athletes from women's and girls' sports. The fans told political commentator Brandi Kruse's unDividedPod.com that Keaton directed expletives at them for a sign that thanked Cunningham "for speaking up for girls." In a statement Thursday, the Storm said they "respect the league's decision" and "remain committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for anyone who attends a Storm game."

Cunningham, 29, an eight-year WNBA veteran, wrote on X on Wednesday that "Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe" and called the incident "truly embarrassing of the co-owner." Supporters are planning pregame rallies Friday in Portland and Sunday in Minneapolis when the Fever play the Fire and Lynx, respectively. Cunningham was not made available to the media after the Fever's 105-95 win but commended the teenage fans on social media.

Lynx cruise past Tempo for ninth straight win

Courtney Williams, Olivia Miles and Napheesa Collier each scored 16 points as the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx extended their win streak to nine with a 104-72 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena, a game reported first by The Canadian Press on July 30, 2026. The Lynx (24-6) trailed 19-18 after the opening quarter before outscoring Toronto the rest of the way, building a 50-41 halftime lead and an 81-55 advantage through three quarters. They committed only 10 turnovers to the Tempo's 24 and swept the three-game season series, scoring at least 100 points in each matchup.

Collier, who made her season debut Tuesday against the same Tempo with 24 points and 10 rebounds after missing four months because of left ankle surgery, followed up with another strong outing in her second game back. Laura Juskaite and Marina Mabrey led Toronto with 19 and 16 points, respectively. The Tempo (10-18) dropped their fifth straight and have used 13 different starting lineups in their inaugural season because of injuries, with Brittney Sykes missing her 13th game with a left foot injury.

The Tempo open a five-game trip at the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday, while the Lynx host the Indiana Fever the same day. The Sunday matchups will also serve as staging points for the ongoing demonstrations sparked by Cunningham's comments and the Seattle incident.