The Phoenix Mercury acquired Kelsey Plum from the Los Angeles Sparks in August in a move that sent Monique Akoa Makani along with two draft picks to Los Angeles, in one of the biggest blockbuster trades of the season. However, her looming free agency at the end of the season has meant that speculation is still high about Plum’s choice of her next team. When her current teammate Alyssa Thomas was asked about this by reporter Dylan Kane of The IX Sports, Thomas insisted that her focus remains on playing basketball rather than any speculation about the future.
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“I think right now we’re just all focused on playing these games,” said Thomas in a post shared on X by Kane on August 15.
“I think for her, just coming off the injury and being able to get back on the court, I think it was great for the couple of games you got to play. We played at USA together, so we’re familiar with each other’s games, but just a lot of fun. Her ability to score, it just adds a whole different dimension to it.”
Kelsey Plum is out of contract at the end of this season and will become an unrestricted free agent.
There is no denying that Plum is an elite scorer. She is averaging 22.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per game this season. She is efficient on scoring as well, as she is converting 52.8% of her shots from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc this season. Furthermore, she was only trailing A’ja Wilson in points per game before her injury issues forced her to the sidelines.
Kelsey Plum has missed significant game time this season due to lingering injury issues, playing only 16 games so far, with just 4 for the Phoenix, averaging 17.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for them.
The Mercury fans are still waiting for her home debut, as she has been ruled out of the game against the Portland Fire, according to Annie Costabile of The Athletic.
“Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts says Kelsey Plum will be out Sunday against the Portland Fire. She will be reevaluated after Sunday to determine if she’ll be available for the Mercury’s next game, which isn’t until Aug. 22.”
This is apparently due to a lower leg injury, the same one that kept her out for five weeks during her time with the Sparks this season. With just nine games left in the regular season, the Mercury fans will hope that she can make her return to the lineup in time, as Kelsey Plum’s impact was immediately felt on her debut against the Chicago Sky on August 3, when she went off for 20 points.
Thomas ranks second in assists per game, while Plum was second in points per game before injury. Together, they could shift Mercury’s fortunes in the league. However, whether it will be sufficient for a late charge for the last playoff spot remains to be seen. With a 13-22 record, they are a whopping seven games behind the Washington Mystics for the eighth and final playoff spot.
For now, Phoenix fans will have to wait a little longer to see Kelsey Plum in action at the Mortgage Matchup Center.