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The WNBA trade deadline is Aug. 2, and guard Kelsey Plum has emerged as one of the league's biggest trade candidates after reports on July 28 indicated she does not intend to re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Sources told The Athletic's Annie Costabile that Plum does not intend to re-sign with the Sparks. However, no meaningful trade talks have been held yet. The Sparks guard was traded to Los Angeles in 2025 in a three-team blockbuster trade with the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm that sent Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas and the second overall pick, which became Dominique Malonga, to Seattle.
The Washington product signed a one-year deal to return to the Sparks for the 2026 season under the new historic collective bargaining agreement for $999,999. She could have signed a supermax contract at $1.4 million but took less, leaving the organization more room to build a competitive roster.
Plum has not played since June 21 against the New York Liberty because of a lower left leg injury, and the team said she would be reevaluated in four weeks. She averaged 23.9 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 12 games before the injury and briefly led the league in scoring, and Kahleah Copper replaced her on the All-Star roster after Plum earned a fifth straight selection.
With the report of Plum not intending to re-sign with the team, Los Angeles may have to trade her to receive value in return. In the past, Los Angeles lost forwards Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, and guard Chelsea Gray, all of whom won championships with the Sparks before leaving in free agency.
Here are the top trade destinations for Plum.
The Washington Mystics could be a destination for Plum because of their youth, cap space, and playoff aspirations. Washington's current core features center Shakira Austin, forward Kiki Iriafen, and guards Sonia Citron and Georgia Amoore.
Washington is in the rebuilding phase while controlling its playoff destiny with a 15-12 record, occupying the eighth seed. The organization can still push for the seventh and sixth seeds behind the New York Liberty (16-12) and the Atlanta Dream (16-10).
The Mystics have assets that they can trade to the Sparks without splitting up their core. Guards Lucy Olsen and Rori Harmon could be part of a package that includes future picks. Washington holds $1,836,639 in cap space, so adding Plum would not put the franchise over the salary cap.
Plum would be able to impact the team right away, Washington's core all has experience, and her veteran presence could accelerate the rebuild.
The Dallas Wings could be an interesting destination for the Sparks guard because it would place her in another accelerated rebuild process with guards Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd as the franchise's future. On the flip side, the Sparks could attempt to land guard Arike Ogunbowale, who re-signed in free agency during the offseason, or forward Alanna Smith, whom Costabile reported Dallas is trying to move.
Smith signed a three-year max deal worth roughly $3.75 million and is averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.2 minutes off the bench, with the Phoenix Mercury reported as the suitor there, which means taking her back would give the Sparks a contract rather than an asset.
If Los Angeles tries to acquire Ogunbowale, Dallas will need to send over additional draft capital to balance the trade value. Plum would fit in with this roster because of their balance of veteran presence and youth.
The Wings signed forwards Jessica Shepard and Smith in the offseason. Dallas is 18-9 on the season and is fourth in league standings. This is the best 27-game start in franchise history.
Although this move sounds good on paper, the only disconnect would be who is the No. 1 option in that guard rotation.
The Golden State Valkyries are the top destination for Plum because of their physical defense and the league's highest-scoring bench. She spent time with Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase when the two were with the Aces.
Being traded to the Valkyries would provide familiarity, since Nakase was on the Las Vegas staff during Plum's back-to-back championship runs in 2022 and 2023. Golden State is second in league standings at 19-8 after the team went on a nine-game winning streak, which ended right before the All-Star break.
The Valkyries are the first expansion team to make the postseason in their inaugural season, and they are on pace to return to the postseason. Plum would provide this team with more offensive creation and shot-making for a group averaging 81.9 points, below the league average of 86.8, and she would give Golden State a late-game scorer if needed.
The 5-foot-8 guard has not appeared in a game in more than five weeks, and any team trading for her before Sunday would be acquiring a player who might not be available until the postseason.
Continue reading...
Sources told The Athletic's Annie Costabile that Plum does not intend to re-sign with the Sparks. However, no meaningful trade talks have been held yet. The Sparks guard was traded to Los Angeles in 2025 in a three-team blockbuster trade with the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm that sent Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas and the second overall pick, which became Dominique Malonga, to Seattle.
The Washington product signed a one-year deal to return to the Sparks for the 2026 season under the new historic collective bargaining agreement for $999,999. She could have signed a supermax contract at $1.4 million but took less, leaving the organization more room to build a competitive roster.
Plum has not played since June 21 against the New York Liberty because of a lower left leg injury, and the team said she would be reevaluated in four weeks. She averaged 23.9 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 12 games before the injury and briefly led the league in scoring, and Kahleah Copper replaced her on the All-Star roster after Plum earned a fifth straight selection.
With the report of Plum not intending to re-sign with the team, Los Angeles may have to trade her to receive value in return. In the past, Los Angeles lost forwards Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, and guard Chelsea Gray, all of whom won championships with the Sparks before leaving in free agency.
Here are the top trade destinations for Plum.
3. Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics could be a destination for Plum because of their youth, cap space, and playoff aspirations. Washington's current core features center Shakira Austin, forward Kiki Iriafen, and guards Sonia Citron and Georgia Amoore.
Washington is in the rebuilding phase while controlling its playoff destiny with a 15-12 record, occupying the eighth seed. The organization can still push for the seventh and sixth seeds behind the New York Liberty (16-12) and the Atlanta Dream (16-10).
The Mystics have assets that they can trade to the Sparks without splitting up their core. Guards Lucy Olsen and Rori Harmon could be part of a package that includes future picks. Washington holds $1,836,639 in cap space, so adding Plum would not put the franchise over the salary cap.
Plum would be able to impact the team right away, Washington's core all has experience, and her veteran presence could accelerate the rebuild.
2. Dallas Wings
The Dallas Wings could be an interesting destination for the Sparks guard because it would place her in another accelerated rebuild process with guards Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd as the franchise's future. On the flip side, the Sparks could attempt to land guard Arike Ogunbowale, who re-signed in free agency during the offseason, or forward Alanna Smith, whom Costabile reported Dallas is trying to move.
Smith signed a three-year max deal worth roughly $3.75 million and is averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.2 minutes off the bench, with the Phoenix Mercury reported as the suitor there, which means taking her back would give the Sparks a contract rather than an asset.
If Los Angeles tries to acquire Ogunbowale, Dallas will need to send over additional draft capital to balance the trade value. Plum would fit in with this roster because of their balance of veteran presence and youth.
The Wings signed forwards Jessica Shepard and Smith in the offseason. Dallas is 18-9 on the season and is fourth in league standings. This is the best 27-game start in franchise history.
Although this move sounds good on paper, the only disconnect would be who is the No. 1 option in that guard rotation.
1. Golden State Valkyries
The Golden State Valkyries are the top destination for Plum because of their physical defense and the league's highest-scoring bench. She spent time with Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase when the two were with the Aces.
Being traded to the Valkyries would provide familiarity, since Nakase was on the Las Vegas staff during Plum's back-to-back championship runs in 2022 and 2023. Golden State is second in league standings at 19-8 after the team went on a nine-game winning streak, which ended right before the All-Star break.
The Valkyries are the first expansion team to make the postseason in their inaugural season, and they are on pace to return to the postseason. Plum would provide this team with more offensive creation and shot-making for a group averaging 81.9 points, below the league average of 86.8, and she would give Golden State a late-game scorer if needed.
The 5-foot-8 guard has not appeared in a game in more than five weeks, and any team trading for her before Sunday would be acquiring a player who might not be available until the postseason.
Continue reading...
