Highlights

Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum is out for the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season with a lower leg injury, the team announced Monday morning, less than a month after she arrived via trade from the Los Angeles Sparks.

Plum was acquired Aug. 2 in a deal with the Sparks. She played five games in a Mercury uniform, averaging 15.8 points and 2.8 assists before the injury ended her season. She scored 20-plus points twice, including a 25-point outing Aug. 7 against Connecticut.

The injury carries a second cost: Plum will also miss the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup with Team USA.

Mercury general manager Nick U'Ren addressed the decision in a written statement Monday. "Kelsey is a competitor, and she wants nothing more than to be on the court with her teammates and competing for the Mercury," U'Ren said. "We know how much it means to her to play, and how much she means to our fans. Ultimately, this was about doing what is best for Kelsey's long-term health and making sure she has the time and support she needs to return to the court at full strength."

Before the trade, Plum earned her fifth career All-Star selection while with the Sparks. She remains one of only six players in the WNBA with a 40-point game this season, per AZFamily and OurSports Central.

The Mercury have not announced a timeline for Plum's return to game action; her recovery will continue with the team's medical and performance staff.

Sources

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  1. AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 31/08/2026 12:51

Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 31/08/2026 12:51. Every claim traces to a source.