Will Kelsey Plum be traded before the WNBA's Aug 2 deadline?
100% of users predicted YES — the community got this one right. 2 predictions cast.
The Los Angeles Sparks traded five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury on August 1, 2026, ahead of the WNBA's August 2 trade deadline. The Mercury sent guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick to Los Angeles in return.
The move made Plum just the fourth All-Star traded midseason in WNBA history. She entered the trade averaging a career-high 23.9 points per game, though a lower-leg injury had sidelined her since June 21.
Reaction to the deal was mixed: some analysts questioned Phoenix's decision to add an impending free agent to an 11-19 roster outside playoff position, while the Sparks were seen as prioritizing future draft capital and a young player over retaining a win-now veteran as they continue a rebuild.
The trade was among several notable moves ahead of the WNBA deadline as teams like the Sparks pivoted toward long-term asset accumulation rather than immediate contention.
The community unanimously predicted this trade would happen, and it did, resolving "yes."