Kelsey Plum traded to Phoenix Mercury in last-minute deal before deadline

In a blockbuster move finalized late Saturday night, the Los Angeles Sparks dealt five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for forward Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, just before the league’s trade deadline. Plum, a two-time champion who has missed action since a lower-left-leg injury on June 21, was on pace for career-best averages of 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game.

The Mercury, sitting 11-19 and chasing a postseason berth, hope Plum’s scoring and experience will bolster their offense and relieve pressure on point guard Alyssa Thomas. The Sparks, now 10-17 after a six-game losing streak and missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year, added a promising young player and future draft assets as they rebuild around Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. Plum was slated to hit free agency after the season and had reportedly declined to re-sign with Los Angeles, making her the most prominent trade candidate before the deadline.