The Phoenix Mercury have landed the biggest available name ahead of the WNBA trade deadline, acquiring five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum from the Los Angeles Sparks.
Phoenix is sending guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round draft pick and a 2028 second-round selection to Los Angeles in the deal. The trade was reported shortly before Sunday’s deadline and gives the Mercury an accomplished scorer, playmaker and proven postseason performer for the stretch run.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Sparks are trading five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first round pick and a 2028 second-rounder, sources tell me and @kendra__andrews. pic.twitter.com/0HvWAsrPGJ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2026
Plum arrives in Phoenix after producing one of the strongest offensive seasons of her career. Through 12 appearances for Los Angeles, she averaged 23.9 points, 6.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from three-point range. A lower-leg injury limited her availability, but her performance when healthy made her the league’s most prominent trade target.
The move signals that Phoenix intends to compete immediately. Plum brings aggressive downhill scoring, deep shooting range and the ability to create offense late in games. She also gives the Mercury another player with extensive championship experience after winning two WNBA titles with the Las Vegas Aces.
Plum and the Mercury have reportedly expressed mutual excitement about the partnership and what can be built in Phoenix. That enthusiasm matters because Plum is expected to have significant control over her future after the season, making the trade more than a simple short-term basketball decision.
For Los Angeles, the deal represents a shift toward the future. The Sparks convert an established star into a young guard and two draft assets rather than risk losing Plum later without receiving meaningful compensation. Akoa Makani gives Los Angeles another developing backcourt option, while the first-round pick provides the most valuable long-term piece of the return.
The trade also closes a relatively brief chapter for Plum in Los Angeles. The Sparks originally acquired her from Las Vegas in a major three-team deal before the 2025 season, but the partnership did not produce the sustained team success both sides had envisioned.
Phoenix is taking the greater immediate risk, particularly because of Plum’s recent injury and contractual future. The reward, however, is obvious. Healthy and committed, she is one of the league’s most dangerous guards and a player capable of changing the balance of a playoff race.
