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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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With the WNBA trade deadline fast approaching — it’s Sunday, Aug. 2 at 3 p.m. ET — several big-name players’ names are being floated in possible trade scenarios.
The first big domino to fall came on Friday when the Toronto Tempo acquired forward Aneesah Morrow from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick and the rights to Maria Kliundikova, a former first-round pick back in 2018.
Now that Morrow’s been moved, the biggest name left on the trade block is Los Angeles Sparks star and five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum, who’s reportedly likely to be moved by the weekend, according to The Athletic’s Annie Costabile.
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“The sense from sources around the league…is that the 31-year-old guard does not intend to re-sign with the Sparks as a free agent,” Costabile wrote. “… The only way for the Sparks, who are 10-16 and four games back of the eighth-seed Washington Mystics, to guarantee they do not lose a valuable asset for nothing is to move Plum before next week.”
If Plum is traded, where could she land? According to ESPN’s Michael Voepel, two teams make the most sense: the Golden State Valkyries and the Washington Mystics.
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“Plum could help the Golden State Valkyries, who have the WNBA's best defense but could use a little more offensive firepower,” Voepel wrote. “She is also used to working with Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, as both previously were with the Aces. Golden State likely would have to part with some of its talented depth. But there are few players of Plum's ability, so trading for her -- with the right conditions met -- could be a big power move. The Valkyries are 19-8 and look poised for a playoff run.
“The Washington Mystics, the youngest team in the WNBA, are 15-12 and in playoff position,” he continued. “Unlike Golden State, the Mystics might not be championship contenders just yet, but Plum could get them closer. In a trade, Washington potentially could provide good capital in the next two drafts.”
The 31-year-old Plum is in the midst of the best season of her career, though she’s only played 12 games.
She’s averaging a career-high 23.9 points, 6.4 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting a career-best 52.7% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range.
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