The Phoenix Mercury’s season ended in a way they certainly didn’t envision. A 100-82 loss to the Las Vegas Aces brought an end to their 16-28 campaign, leaving Phoenix with plenty to address before the 2027 season. But as their offseason begins, one question stands above the rest: will Kelsey Plum still be in Phoenix?

The Mercury acquired the five-time All-Star at the August 2 trade deadline, giving them a chance to form a formidable trio with Plum alongside Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper. But the move also came with a significant question. Plum was set to become an unrestricted free agent, meaning Phoenix’s blockbuster midseason addition could ultimately be a short-term experiment. So when Thomas was recently asked whether she believes the trio can work together next season, the 34-year-old made it clear that the decision isn’t hers to make.

“That’s not for me to decide,” Thomas said, per an X post by Dylan Kane, a Phoenix Mercury beat reporter for The IX Sports.

Still, Plum’s brief stint in Phoenix offered some early evidence that the three could complement one another. Plum averaged 21.5 points and 5.4 assists over 17 games this season, while averaging 15.8 points and 2.8 assists for Phoenix, giving the Mercury another elite shot creator and playmaker alongside Thomas and Copper.

Her early chemistry with Thomas looked particularly promising. The two operated smoothly in the pick-and-roll, with Plum’s ability to draw a second defender creating opportunities for Thomas as a roller or cutter. Having Plum and Copper on the perimeter also gave Phoenix two players capable of creating their own shots, making it harder for defenses to overload on either one.

That potential was on full display in their first game together against the Chicago Sky. Plum scored 20 points in just 21 minutes off the bench, Thomas recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, while Copper led all scorers with 31 points. There is one major problem, though: Phoenix barely got to see the trio together.

Kelsey Plum played just five games for the Mercury and spent much of her time rehabbing a lower-leg injury. Her limited availability made it difficult for the team to fully explore what the three could become over an entire season. Yet the Mercury have made it clear that they want Plum to remain part of the picture.

“She’s an incredible human, she’s an incredible teammate, she’s an incredible player. We wanted that in our building. She’s great for us in the locker room, she’s great for us on the floor, off the floor. We certainly hope this is her home moving forward. We’re committed to doing that,” general manager Nick U’Ren said, according to The IX Sports.

Even head coach Nate Tibbetts emphasized the potential of keeping all three stars together. Thomas, Copper and Plum combined for 51.6 points per game this season, and Tibbetts believes their different strengths can complement one another.

“I think they all complement each other in their own way. Obviously, it takes time to build that trust. But I really believe in those three,” Tibbetts said. “It’s our job to get them to play the right way in our style and [figure out,] how do we evolve offensively and defensively that fits all three of them? And then also, what are the pieces that we put around them that can be most effective?”

However, financially, Phoenix will still have to make the numbers work. Thomas and Copper are currently projected to account for roughly $2.46 million in 2027 salary, $1.2 million for Thomas and $1.26 million for Copper. And according to AZCentral’s current cap projection, Phoenix has approximately $3.26 million in projected cap space entering the offseason, and Kelsey Plum could command more than $1 million if she returns.

The stakes of Plum’s free agency are even higher because Phoenix didn’t acquire her cheaply. The Mercury sent Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-rounder to Los Angeles for the five-time All-Star. At one point, Phoenix’s 2027 first was projected to land at No. 7, with a 3.0% chance of becoming the No. 1 pick, according to Tankathon, meaning the Mercury could have surrendered a valuable lottery asset for a player who ultimately appeared in only five games.

And with Plum becoming only the fourth All-Star in league history to be dealt during a season, joining Brittney Sykes, Katie Smith and Dawn Staley, it is clear that Mercury was serious about keeping Plum. In fact, U’Ren said getting her into the building early was important because it gave Plum a firsthand look at Phoenix’s staff, players, facilities, and organizational culture before free agency.

That said, while some have viewed Phoenix’s decision to acquire her at the deadline as part of a longer-term pitch, the final call ultimately belongs to Kelsey Plum herself.

If she chooses to stay, the Mercury will have a chance to build around a trio that showed flashes of what it could become. After finishing 16-28 and missing the playoffs, though, Phoenix will also have to learn from what went wrong this season and make sure that potential translates into results in 2027.