A major WNBA name is on the move.
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The Los Angeles Sparks have traded five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, according to ESPN.
The deal comes just ahead of the league's trade deadline and marks only the fourth time an All-Star has been traded during the middle of a WNBA season.
"Kelsey is one of the league's most dynamic players," Mercury general manager Nick U'Ren said in a statement. "She is a fierce competitor with a winning mentality who impacts the game on both ends of the floor."
Plum, a two-time WNBA champion, has been sidelined since June 21 with a lower left leg injury but had been expected to return soon. It remains unclear whether she will be available for Phoenix's next game.
Before the injury, Plum was enjoying one of the best seasons of her career, averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists in 12 games. Both marks are career highs, and she briefly led the league in scoring earlier this season.
The Sparks acquired Plum before the 2025 season as part of an effort to accelerate their rebuild, but Los Angeles has struggled this year, entering the trade on a six-game losing streak and outside the playoff picture.
Phoenix, meanwhile, adds one of the WNBA's premier scorers and a proven postseason performer as it looks to strengthen its roster for the stretch run.
According to ESPN, Plum still plans to test free agency following the season, though a long-term return to the Mercury has not been ruled out.
