When is Kelsey Plum expected to join Mercury after Sparks trade?

The Phoenix Mercury pulled off a massive move at the 2026 WNBA trade deadline. Phoenix acquired superstar guard Kelsey Plum from LA in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani and multiple draft picks. So when will the Mercury finally get to see their new superstar in action on the court?

ESPN’s Alexa Philippou shared when the team expects Plum to finally join them after acquiring the veteran talent.

“I’m told Kelsey Plum will be with the Mercury in Chicago by their game Monday night, but it is not yet certain whether she’d play,” Philippou wrote on Sunday. “She last appeared for the Sparks on June 21. Phoenix is 11-19, six games back of the last playoff spot, with 14 games remaining.”

Plum has been sidelined with a lower-leg injury that she suffered in late June. That injury was the catalyst that torpedoed the 2026 season for the Sparks. It also seems to have led the Sparks to being comfortable moving on from Plum so quickly.

As for the Mercury, they will want to get a look at Plum in their system as soon as possible. That may be their main objective with a playoff berth looking hopeless at the moment.

The elephant in the room is that Plum still apparently wants to test free agency this offseason despite the trade. That means Phoenix could theoretically lose Plum to another team next spring.

As such, the Mercury should want to see Plum play at a high level down the stretch to validate their big bet on her. If Plum looks worth a big-money contract, then Phoenix may pursue that possibility during the offseason.

Either way, the rest of the 2026 season suddenly got a lot more important for both sides.

Next up for the Mercury is a road game against the Sky on August 3rd. It will be fascinating to see whether or not Plum plays in that contest.

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