The Los Angeles Sparks traded five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round draft pick, and a 2028 second-rounder. The blockbuster deal comes as Los Angeles pulls the plug on a struggling 10-17 season ahead of the WNBA trade deadline.
The Kelsey Plum era in Los Angeles has officially come to a close. League sources confirmed to The Athletic—with ESPN reporting first—that the Sparks are sending the veteran guard to Phoenix. The trade marks a dramatic pivot for a franchise that entered the 2025 offseason trying to accelerate out of a rebuild. Los Angeles originally acquired Plum by trading the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, which turned into All-Star Dominique Malonga, in hopes of reaching the postseason for the first time since 2020.
That postseason goal unraveled. The Sparks missed the playoffs by two games in 2025, and a lower leg injury sidelined Plum for much of 2026, limiting her to just 12 games and leaving Los Angeles sitting at 10-17 and 5 1/2 games out of a playoff spot. With Plum set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and league executives sensing she would not re-sign in Los Angeles, the Sparks opted to recoup value rather than risk losing her for nothing.
Phoenix Stakes Its Claim on a Win-Now Window
For the Phoenix Mercury, the trade is a clear all-in bet on a championship window. The franchise has built a formidable core featuring Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas, both signed through next season. Plum joins a roster that desperately needed an offensive spark after ranking 12th in the league in offensive rating following the departure of Satou Sabally to New York.
Despite playing only 12 games in 2026, Plum ranks second in the league in scoring with 23.9 points per game and sixth in assists at 6.4. Yahoo Sports notes that she operates as a true microwave scorer with unbridled intensity. Plum can be that secondary and sometimes primary option
, providing a facilitator and initiator alongside Copper and Thomas, according to Yahoo Sports. Because Thomas shoulders heavy ball-handling duties, Plum can slide into the one position without carrying the total playmaking burden she bore in Los Angeles.
Assets Exchanged and the Cost of Speeding Up
The trade package sent to Los Angeles centers on draft equity and young talent. The Sparks receive Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round draft pick, and a 2028 second-round selection. Akoa Makani started for a WNBA finalist last season at age 24, boasts a career 41 percent shooting mark from 3-point range, and brings strong pick-and-roll defense under team control through the minimum salary in 2027 before becoming a reserved free agent.
However, analysts differ on the value exchange. While Yahoo Sports grades the Mercury’s move with an A-minus for aggressively securing an elite guard who shares an agent with Copper—thereby bolstering retention odds—the outlet gives the Sparks a C-plus. The critique notes that while getting a potential lottery pick in 2027 aids the rebuild alongside Cameron Brink and Rae Burrell, parting with a first-round selection before exploring other offers fully may reflect lingering organizational shortcomings.
Roster Turnover and the Road Ahead for Los Angeles
Plum’s departure is the second major personnel shift for the Sparks this season, following the organization’s decision to part ways with general manager Raegan Pebley earlier in the month. ET, Yahoo Sports and The Athletic note that Los Angeles could continue shopping remaining veterans such as Nneka Ogwumike, Dearica Hamby, Erica Wheeler, and Ariel Atkins.
For Phoenix, the risk lies in trading high-value draft capital while sitting six games back of the eighth seed. Yet, by securing Plum ahead of the deadline, the Mercury have bought time to cement their relationship with the star guard ahead of 2027 free agency, betting that a proven winner can instantly transform their stagnant offense.
