Kelsey Plum is going viral for the second time in as many games for the Phoenix Mercury. The first was a clutch, go-ahead three-pointer with 53.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to secure a victory in her debut. The second? Definitely not another clutch three-pointer, but still a moment compelling enough for the WNBA themselves to share on X.
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During Wednesday’s matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and the Atlanta Dream, Plum inadvertently sprinted into Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko’s arms while trying to save a loose ball along the sideline. The unexpected mid-game embrace went viral almost instantly, and the broadcast crew simply could not let it pass without comment.
In the clip that the WNBA shared, commentators jokingly described the cinematic-looking catch as a “love story,” saying Plum had “jumped right into his arms.” They also playfully noted that it was fortunate Smesko lifted weights. Even the WNBA’s own caption leaned fully into the humor.
“KP just wanted a hug mid-game 🤣. Plum hustled up court and couldn’t get the ball, so she got a hug from Coach Smesko instead,” read the post.
That specific play happened in the fourth quarter with 7:52 remaining as the Mercury trailed by 16 points (84-68). Kelsey Plum was hustling hard to track down a stray pass that had deflected near the sideline. Thankfully, Karl Smesko caught her before she slammed into a bench full of Dream players.
Sadly, Kelsey Plum’s intensity could not change the outcome of the game. Plum and the Mercury ended up losing the game 96-82, despite her individual effort producing 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
This marks Kelsey Plum’s second game in a Mercury uniform since the blockbuster midseason trade from the Los Angeles Sparks on August 1. Her debut, by contrast, had gone considerably better. The Mercury beat the Chicago Sky 106-101, with Plum finishing with 20 points, one rebound, and four assists.
Notably, she delivered the game’s biggest shot, draining a clutch, go-ahead three-pointer with 53.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Meanwhile, the game against the Mercury saw the Atlanta Dream bounce back after a massive loss against the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces handed the Dream a 109-87 loss despite Angel Reese scoring 23 points in a double-double performance.
That loss broke the Dream’s five-game winning streak. However, the Dream have now moved up to fourth place in the standings, with Rhyne Howard’s 23 points and Allisha Gray’s 20 points powering the win as Angel Reese notched her 21st double-double of the season.
Meanwhile, with this loss, the Phoenix Mercury now sit at 12-20 and tenth in the overall league standings. Their next game is against the Connecticut Sun, and they will be hoping to bounce back with a win. With Plum now in the mix, they certainly have a better chance of doing exactly that than they did before she arrived.