Kelsey Plum snubs record-breaking deal with decision made over six-figure Sparks contract

Apr 12, 2026 - 19:15

Money isn’t everything for Kelsey Plum.

With big money flooding into the WNBA via broadcast deals, and an era-defining CBA, seven figures are on the table for the game’s biggest names.

Plum’s return is a huge boost for the Sparks

However Plum has reportedly taken a team-friendly deal despite being eligible for a bumper $1.4 million supermax extension.

The 31-year-old will return to the Los Angeles Sparks on a one-year, $999,999 contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Plum was traded to the Sparks last offseason as part of a multi-team deal.

The WNBA icon hails from Southern California and averaged 19.5 points, 5.7 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

It was not enough to prevent Los Angeles missing out on the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season with a 21-23 record.

Plum refusing what would have equalled the record for a WNBA contract should help the franchise strengthen in a bid to end the league’s longer postseason drought.

The Team USA star was drafted first overall by the San Antonio Stars before the relocation to Las Vegas.

With the Aces, she was a four-time All-Star and two-time WNBA champion.

The Sparks are also bringing back Dearica Hamby, with Nneka Ogwumike arriving in free agency.

A 10-time All-Star, Ogwumike won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award with Los Angeles in 2012 and was named MVP in 2016.

WNBA stars finally got the pay boost they demanded

WNBA enters a whole new era

The new WNBA CBA is set to shake up women’s basketball in a new era for the sport.

Angel Reese’s trade to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for two first-round picks was a potentially seismic moment.

She joins a genuine contender with Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Brittney Griner all on a roster that went 30-14 last season.

Reese has proved dominant in the paint in her two years in the W, but had been vocal about her issues in Chicago.

“I am very vocal about what we need and what I want,” she said in 2025. “I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me.”

At the back end of last season, the Bayou Barbie also stated: “I’m not settling for the same s*** we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me.

Reese is on her way to Atlanta in the biggest trade of the WNBA offseason so far[/caption]

“I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason.

“So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”

In Indiana, where Caitlin Clark will return after an injury-plagued second season, the team are keeping their squad together.

Despite Clark’s struggles they made an unexpected run to the playoff semifinals, and Lexi Hull, Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham in returning for 2026.

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