Kelsey Plum Deal Headlines Another Quiet WNBA Trade Deadline
· Yahoo Sports
Many expected the WNBA to shed its reputation for having a drowsy trade deadline this year under its new collective bargaining agreement, which massively increased team salary caps. However, the 2026mid-season trade market—which met its deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday—was once again relatively quiet.
The biggest move came late Saturday night, when the Los Angeles Sparks sent five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for second-year guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick. It’s only the fourth time in WNBA history that an All-Star has been dealt midseason, and signals the intention to launch a full rebuild in L.A.
Visit afnews.co.za for more information.
Phoenix’s acquisition, meanwhile, doesn’t come without some risk.
ESPN’s Kendra Andrews reported that Plum, who is averaging a career-best 23.9 points per game this season, still intends to become a free agent after the 2026 season ends—though re-signing with the team isn’t totally off the table. After agreeing to a team-friendly deal (one-year, $999,999) with the Sparks ahead of this season, Plum will likely seek out the $1.4 million supermax salary she is eligible for under the new CBA.
With 14 regular-season games left, the Mercury—sitting in 11th place at 11-19—will need to act fast to make the most of Plum’s presence. (The eight teams with the best regular-season records qualify for the WNBA playoffs, regardless of conference.)
Another Move
The only other notable deadline-spurred deal involved the Toronto Tempo and the Connecticut Sun. On Friday, the Tempo acquired second-year forward Aneesah Morrow from the Sun in exchange for a 2028 second-round draft pick and the rights to forward Maria Kliundikova. Averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, Morrow could provide a lift to a lagging 10-18 Tempo team in their first season.
Perhaps more dealmaking will finally come later in the decade, when the league adds franchises in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030).
The post Kelsey Plum Deal Headlines Another Quiet WNBA Trade Deadline appeared first on Front Office Sports.