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The Los Angeles Sparks sent All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for a 2026 first-round draft pick, Monique Akoa Makani and a second-round selection in 2028, according to sources briefed on the transaction. The deal closed late Saturday night, just ahead of Sunday’s trade deadline, and was initially disclosed by ESPN before being confirmed through league sources.
Plum has remained unavailable since mid-June due to a lower leg injury, though she had begun practicing this week and was expected to participate in Sunday’s matchup against Portland before the deal materialized. The 23.9-point, 6.4-assist performer ranked among the league’s elite scorers before her injury sidelined her, leaving Los Angeles without critical offensive firepower in six consecutive games.
Phoenix enters the trade positioned at 11-19, trailing the eighth-place New York Liberty by six games after a narrow 94-92 loss Saturday. The Mercury reached last season’s WNBA Finals but have underperformed this year despite retaining stars Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper on their roster.
Akoa Makani, acquired by Los Angeles in last year’s notable transaction that sent the No. 2 overall pick to Seattle, has averaged 9.4 points and 2.5 assists across 16 games this season. The Seattle selection ultimately became All-Star Dominique Malonga, highlighting the long-term stakes of roster decisions made during rebuilding phases.
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