Kelsey Plum intends to become a free agent and explore the open market after the 2026 WNBA season following her trade from the Los Angeles Sparks to the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, ESPN’s Kendra Andrews reports.
Plum, 31, will finish out the one-year deal she originally signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. The five-time All-Star took less money to stay with the Sparks, agreeing to a $999,999 deal to give the team more payroll flexibility to build a roster.
However, Plum was eligibile for a $1.4 million supermax deal under the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement and will likely seek that kind of payday after the Sparks failed to follow through on their playoff aspirations.
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At 11-18 after Saturday’s 94-92 loss to the New York Liberty, Phoenix is currently six games back from the WNBA’s final playoff spot and No. 8 seed with 14 games left to play.
Re-signing with the Mercury is still an option for Plum, according to Andrews. With Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, the team can build around a star trio for the remainder of this season and years to come. However, Plum has the opportunity to join a championship contender in addition to getting a top-dollar contract.
The two-time WNBA champion will also be coming off what could be a career-best season for her. Before suffering the lower-leg injury that has sidelined her since June 24, Plum was averaging 23.9 points, 6.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 12 games. She was shooting 64% from the floor, including 38% on 3-pointers.
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But for now, Plum will play out the season with the Mercury. The question becomes when she will play her first game with her new team. Phoenix’s next game is scheduled for Monday, beginning a three-game road trip at the Chicago Sky.
Plum will join the team in Chicago, but it’s not certain whether or not she’ll play on Monday, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. Prior to being traded, the guard said she intended to play for the Sparks on Sunday in a game scheduled just after the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
However, even if she played, the plan was for Plum to come off the bench and play on a minutes restriction. Figuring out Plum’s usage in addition to her cross-country travel are likely factors in whatever decision is made.
Plum last played on June 21, missing the Sparks’ past 11 games. She was averaging 34.5 minutes per contest, the second-highest of her nine WNBA seasons.
