Phoenix Mercury acquire Kelsey Plum from Los Angeles Sparks in deadline trade

The Los Angeles Sparks traded five-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury hours before the trade deadline, ESPN reported. In return, Phoenix sent guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to Los Angeles.

Plum, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft, has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging a career-high 23.9 points and 6.4 assists before missing time with ankle and lower-leg injuries. She was named to her fifth All-Star team despite limited availability. The exact date of her debut for Phoenix has not been announced.

The Mercury, currently 11-19 and 12th in the league in points per game, added Plum to bolster an offense that ranks near the bottom of the league. The team remains six games behind the eighth-place playoff spot with 14 games remaining.

Los Angeles, 10-17 and in 11th place, received a promising young guard in Akoa Makani, who has averaged 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season, along with two future draft selections. The Sparks have also recently dismissed general manager Raegan Pebley and are expected to continue rebuilding.

"Plum will immediately give the team some much-needed offensive firepower," a league analyst noted.

Both clubs will reassess their rosters after the season, as Plum is set to become an unrestricted free agent.