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This year's WNBA traded deadline is headlined by one especially noteworthy name: Sparks guard Kelsey Plum.
Plum is one of the league's finest players, an enchanting blend of ball-handling, playmaking and shot creation. She's enjoyed the best year of her career for Los Angeles, proving one of few bright spots in a campaign filled with shadows for the 10-16 Sparks.
With her contract expiring upon the conclusion of the season and Los Angeles floundering, Plum appears on the outs. She's expected to have plenty of suitors interested in acquiring her services.
With that, here's a look at some of the sides that could make a move to land Plum before the Aug. 2 deadline.
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Kelsey Plum landing spots
Valkyries
Golden State already has the makings of a championship-caliber roster, with Natalie Nakase's squad emerging as a force in the Western Conference off the back of its league-best defense.
Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaun and Veronica Burton have all enjoyed standout campaigns in the Bay. For all of the Valkyries' defensive might, they are lacking a Grade-A scoring threat.
Plum fits that description nicely, ranking second in scoring (23.9 points per game) while posting the sixth-best true shooting rate in the league (65.3%). The Los Angeles guard is both prolific and efficient, qualities that could sizzle on a Golden State roster that ranks last in the league in pace and a paltry 12th in scoring.
The Valkyries could dangle some of their young assets to secure Plum's services. Additionally, if they make some noise in the postseason, that could be enough to convince Plum to stay in the Bay Area for a while longer.
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Mystics
Things are starting to come together in Washington, which has accelerated its timeline for contention after selecting two-time All-Stars Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen in the 2025 draft.
The Mystics sit in the eighth seed at present, having posted a 14-12 record. They're 3.5 games up on the ninth-seeded Fire and should have enough to hold down a playoff spot, assuming their best players stay healthy.
Washington has yet to find a winning formula at lead guard, with Georgia Amoore and Rori Harmon proving ineffective in their maiden campaigns. A likely All-WNBA First Team candidate, Plum would inject a real scoring punch into the Mystics' lowly offense. Sidney Johnson's side ranks second-last in scoring and offensive rating.
It's unclear whether Washington would want to make such a drastic move to disrupt its rebuild. The Mystics are aided by the fact that they have the rights to the Sky's 2027 and 2028 draft picks, selections that could very well land in the lottery.
The Mystics could be considered a dark horse for a Plum trade, looking far less likely to acquire the 31-year-old than Golden State. But if Washington wants an upgrade at guard, there isn't a better player it could land than Plum.
Wings
Let's get weird. Plum is by no means a natural fit in Dallas — her ball-dominant style of play would likely clash with star guard Paige Bueckers. But she looks far better suited to play alongside Bueckers than Arike Ognunbowale, who is similarly high-usage without offering anywhere near the shot-making of the Los Angeles guard.
Plum is a much better player than Ogunbowale at this point in their respective careers. Her gravity as a shot-maker could open up the floor for Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, a captivating proposition for a roster that has shown flashes of brilliance offensively.
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It's hard to see a scenario where Dallas retains Plum's services beyond this season. But if the Wings want to shore up their title chances this season — and perhaps get off of Ogunbowale's two-year deal — making a move for Plum could make for good business.
Will the Sparks trade Kelsey Plum?
The Athletic's Annie Costabile reported that sources believe that Plum will not re-sign with the Sparks when her contract expires at the end of the year. Plum left money on the table to re-sign with Los Angeles in 2025. With her contract dwindling, this year's trade deadline would represent the last opportunity for the Sparks to get value out of her.
At present, Los Angeles have given no indication that it will deal Plum. Given the price it gave up to acquire her services — the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, used to select Dominique Malonga, the youngest All-Star in league history — it seems most likely that the Sparks would make a move. They already acknowledged that their gamble failed earlier in the offseason, sacking the general manager responsible for the trade, Raegan Pebley.
A rebuild appears on the horizon in Tinseltown. Perhaps a Plum trade — no matter how underwhelming the return is — can aid in that process.
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