Mercury land Kelsey Plum in blockbuster trade with Sparks

The Phoenix Mercury made a blockbuster trade overnight Saturday into Sunday to acquire five-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum from the Los Angeles Sparks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.

The Mercury sent Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to the Sparks, Charania added.

The trade marked just the fourth time in league history that an All-Star was moved midseason.

Plum has been out since June 21 due to a lower leg injury. The two-time WNBA champion was expected to return for the Sparks Sunday, but it is unknown if she’ll make the quick turnaround and play in Phoenix’s next game, on Monday at the Chicago Sky.

The former All-WNBA talent is a free agent at the end of the season and is expected to test the market.

The Mercury (11-19) currently sit 12th in the league standings with 14 games remaining.  Phoenix is currently six games back of the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, who sit seventh and eighth in the standings – the playoff cutoff.

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