Mercury's Bold Plum Trade Sparks Controversy and Playoff Buzz

WHO:

Pro Football Network - WNBA analyst Erica Ayala discussed the trade.

CBS Sports - Kelsey Plum was traded from the Los Angeles Sparks to the Phoenix Mercury.

CBS Sports - Monique Akoa Makani was traded from the Mercury to the Sparks.

WHAT:

CBS Sports - The WNBA trade deadline saw only two deals completed, with the Sparks and Tempo both earning an A grade for their trades, while the Sun and Mercury received a D grade.

CBS Sports - The Minnesota Lynx have a 3.5-game lead over the second-place Aces after a 108-100 victory against the Fever.

NBC Sports - Kelsey Plum became the fourth All-Star in league history to be traded midseason.

NBC Sports - The Sparks could potentially receive two 2027 lottery picks if the Mercury miss the playoffs.

NBC Sports - Plum plans to go through a full free agency process in winter of 2027.

CBS Sports - The Connecticut Sun have a 7-22 overall record and are expected to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

CBS Sports - The Sparks traded Kelsey Plum for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick.

CBS Sports - Kelsey Plum has been averaging 23.9 points per game this season, the highest points-per-game average for a player that changed teams midseason in WNBA history (minimum 10 games played).

CBS Sports - The Mercury are currently 5.5 games out of playoff position with 14 games remaining in the regular season.

CBS Sports - The Minnesota Lynx have a 25-6 overall record and are on a 10-game winning streak.

WHERE:

CBS Sports - The trade involved teams in the WNBA, specifically the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury.

WHEN:

CBS Sports - The WNBA trade deadline occurred on a Sunday, with the trade of Kelsey Plum happening in the middle of Saturday night/Sunday morning.

WHY:

CBS Sports - The Sparks traded Kelsey Plum as it became clear she was likely to leave in free agency, prompting them to get something in return to help their future.

HOW:

CBS Sports - The trade was executed as part of the WNBA's trade deadline activities, which saw limited player movement this season.

In a quiet WNBA trade deadline, only two deals were completed, with the Sparks and Tempo earning high marks for their trades, while the Sun and Mercury fell short. The Minnesota Lynx secured a solid 108-100 victory over the Fever, maintaining a 3.5-game lead over the second-place Aces. In a notable move, Kelsey Plum became the fourth All-Star in league history to be traded midseason, and she plans to enter free agency in winter 2027.