Sparks trade five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to Phoenix Mercury
Los Angeles has traded Kelsey Plum, currently leading the league in scoring, to Phoenix in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick. The deal marks the Sparks' formal retreat from contention after recent veteran acquisitions failed to stabilize the team.
The Los Angeles Sparks have traded five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for forward Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick, per ESPN reporting. The deal marks a midseason trade of a star player and signals the Sparks' formal abandonment of their contention window after a costly failed experiment.
Plum is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists through 12 games, both career highs, according to ESPN. She led the WNBA in scoring earlier this season. The trade marks the fourth time in league history that an All-Star has been traded midseason, per the reporting.
Los Angeles entered this offseason as a contention threat after acquiring Plum ahead of the 2025 campaign by trading the No. 2 draft pick. The organization also brought in veterans Nneka Ogwumike and Ariel Atkins, trading Jackson to acquire the latter. The strategy has collapsed: the Sparks are 10-17 and mired in a six-game losing streak, going 2-9 since Plum's injury. The team looks unlikely to make the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Last week, Los Angeles parted ways with general manager Raegan Pebley, elevating assistant GMs Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen, both new to the WNBA, to interim leadership roles.
Phoenix general manager Nick U'Ren said in a statement, per ESPN: "Kelsey is one of the league's most dynamic players. 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 has been out since June 21 because of a lower left leg injury. The official injury report lists this as the extent of her current condition. It remains unknown whether she will be available when the Mercury play Monday against the Chicago Sky, per ESPN. Plum had been expected to return for the Sparks' next game before the trade was completed. According to an ESPN source, Plum intends to go through the full free agency process in the offseason, though remaining with the Mercury is not off the table. Plum is a two-time WNBA champion and has missed time earlier in the season due to an ankle injury.
The Mercury are 11-19, 13 games out of first place and six games behind the eighth-place New York Liberty, per confirmed league standings. Phoenix reached the WNBA Finals last season.
The Los Angeles Sparks traded five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick.
The Sparks' decision to trade Plum while still injured and with no long-term commitment from the star signals deeper organizational instability rather than a coherent rebuild strategy. Watch for Phoenix's timeline on Plum's recovery and whether her full free-agency intent in the offseason shapes how the Mercury value the trade in retrospect.
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Single-source report. As published, only ESPN had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
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