Kelsey Plum trade rumors are heating up as the Los Angeles Sparks are expected to explore a deal before the WNBA trade deadline, according to Los Angeles Times reporter Marisa Ingemi. Here’s why the Washington Mystics, Golden State Valkyries, Atlanta Dream, and Dallas Wings could emerge as landing spots.
Plum reportedly doesn’t intend to re-sign with the Sparks after this season, according to Anna Costabile, Women’s Basketball Writer for The Athletic. She averages 23.9 points per game while shooting 52.7% from the field, 2.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.2 steals and zero blocks per game in 12 games this season.
The Mystics should be all over Plum since they are in need of a point guard. They have all the talent they need in the frontcourt and are already a rising team. If they add her to the backcourt, they will easily be a very good team.
Washington currently has the type of flexibility that allows for an unbalanced trade. Hypothetically, she, at $999,999, could be traded to them for a draft pick alone, as the Mystics have enough available cap space to absorb her full salary. Their hypothetical starting lineup could be Georgia Amoore, Plum, Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin.
Washington would obviously need an available roster spot. So, the Mystics could waive somebody, say Rori Harmon, at $270,000 in this hypothetical situation, to create the roster spot. Her salary is guaranteed. It would remain on Washington’s cap, but that still doesn’t require Los Angeles to take a Mystics player back.
The Valkyries should reach out to the Sparks to see if they can work out a trade for Plum. She is a great fit for Golden State, and it would immediately make them title favorites.
Plum would be the scorer the Valkyries need to balance out their defense-heavy team. Their hypothetical starting lineup could be Veronica Burton, Plum, Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton, and Kiah Stokes.
For a deal to happen, a theoretical trade package could involve Janelle Salaun, Kaitlyn Chen, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick. Golden State has ample picks and enough role players to withstand losing a couple in a deal.
The Dream needs someone who can actually create in the half-court, and Plum fits that description. The problem is that the only way to make the salaries work is by trading Naz Hillmon. Their hypothetical starting lineup could be Plum, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, and Brionna Jones. Jordin Canada would go to the bench.
Plum going to the Wings would make sense if they traded for Arike Ogunbowale and moved off her contract. Dallas’ hypothetical starting lineup could be Paige Bueckers, Plum, Azzi Fudd, Alanna Smith, and Jessica Shepard. The team would still defend terribly, but that is nothing new.
Plum never arrived in Los Angeles to build a home with the Sparks; she arrived to close a chapter with elegance before opening the next. The one-year contract, with a salary below the maximum she could have received, sold the illusion of a competitive project in the WNBA. Today, though, the signs point in another direction.
If Los Angeles knows its star has no intention of renewing, clinging to her until the last day would be a luxury that a rebuilding team can hardly afford. Losing an asset of that magnitude without getting anything in return would be another administrative blunder for the Sparks. They have spent far too long searching for the map while the rest have already found the highway.
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The market does not forgive sentimentality. If Plum has already decided to continue her career far from the Sparks, the smart move is to negotiate before the deadline and turn an inevitable farewell into a strategy for the future.
Drafted by the San Antonio Stars in 2017 as the No. 1 pick, she has built one of the league’s most consistent careers. Stars (2017), Las Vegas Aces (2018–2024), and the Sparks (2025–present).
Sunday’s WNBA trade deadline could determine where Plum finishes the season. Expect Los Angeles to seriously explore trade offers before Sunday’s deadline rather than risk losing Plum in free agency for nothing.
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