As the WNBA trade deadline approaches, multiple reports indicate that star guard Kelsey Plum could be on the trading block. The 31-year-old five-time All-Star is entering the final year of a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Sparks and has reportedly expressed no intention to re-sign with the team after this season.

Plum, who earned the Sixth Player of the Year Award in 2021, has emerged as one of the league’s premier scoring guards over the past two seasons with the Sparks. Despite battling injuries during the current campaign, she is averaging a career-high 23.9 points per game, placing her second in league scoring only behind her former teammate A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces. She is also contributing a career-best 6.4 assists per game, ranking sixth in the WNBA.

Prior to joining Los Angeles, Plum played a key role in helping the Las Vegas Aces secure two championships. In 2022, she was named the All-Star Game MVP and earned All-WNBA first-team honors. Earlier in her career, Plum set the NCAA career scoring record during her time at Washington, a mark later surpassed by Caitlin Clark.

Plum’s potential availability has attracted significant trade speculation, though her sizable contract, reportedly just under $1 million, could limit the number of teams able to accommodate her salary under the league’s salary cap.

Several teams have been identified as possible landing spots:

The Golden State Valkyries, despite boasting the WNBA’s third-best record and a top-ranked defense, struggle offensively, ranking near the bottom in multiple scoring categories. While the Valkyries would benefit significantly from Plum’s offensive prowess, they have no current cap space to absorb her contract. A trade would likely require Golden State to package players such as Juste Jocyte and Kayla Thornton, potentially alongside draft picks, raising questions about whether such an offer would appeal to the Sparks. Additionally, uncertainty remains about Plum’s willingness to commit long-term to Golden State.

The Washington Mystics are currently on the cusp of securing the eighth and final playoff berth. While they have a promising young core featuring Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin, their offense ranks near the bottom in several key metrics. With sufficient cap space available, Washington could create an attractive trade proposal potentially involving young players like Georgia Amoore and Angela Dugalić to acquire Plum’s veteran scoring ability.

The Portland Fire have the league’s most cap space available—exceeding $2 million—making Plum’s contract absorption feasible. Pairing Plum with sharpshooter Bridget Carleton could significantly enhance Portland’s offensive threat and boost their chances of contending for a playoff spot in the latter half of the season. However, it remains uncertain whether the Fire possess valuable assets that would entice Los Angeles in a trade.

As the trade deadline nears, the Sparks face decisions about how to maximize return for Plum, while interested teams weigh the financial and roster implications of acquiring one of the WNBA’s most dynamic scorers.