Sparks Trade All-Star Plum to Mercury for Two Picks
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- 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, completing the WNBA's marquee deal late Saturday before Sunday's deadline
- Kelsey Plum has been sidelined since June 21 with a lower left leg injury after earlier missing time with an ankle issue; she told reporters Thursday she intended to play against Portland
- Plum averaged career-highs of 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game across 12 appearances and led the WNBA in scoring earlier this season
- The Sparks sit at 10-17 with a six-game losing streak (2-9 without Plum) and now look likely to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season
- Sparks management fast-tracked contention by trading the No. 2 pick for Plum and dealing Rickea Jackson for Ariel Atkins — reversing an earlier 2024 rebuild that drafted Cameron Brink and Jackson
- General manager Raegan Pebley was let go earlier this month, with assistant GMs Zack Knowlton and Nate Nielsen, both new to the WNBA, elevated as interim leadership
Why it matters: The Mercury land a two-time champion putting up career-best numbers, but one returning from a leg injury. The Sparks surrender their marquee mid-season acquisition after just 12 games, extending a likely sixth straight playoff miss under a front office that was overhauled this month with two assistant GMs both new to the WNBA running the interim.
