At the start of this year’s WNBA free agency period, a major three-team trade unfolded that sent star guard Kelsey Plum from the Las Vegas Aces to the Los Angeles Sparks. In return, Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd was traded to the Aces, while the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, which became French player Dominique Malonga, was sent to the Storm. This trade occurred after Plum indicated she wanted a new beginning following seven seasons with Las Vegas.
Since joining the Sparks, Plum has emerged as one of the league’s leading scorers and appears to have found a strong fit within her new team’s structure.
Kelsey Plum Shares the Motivation Behind Her Trade Request
On August 15, Kelsey Plum appeared as a guest on Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird, where she explained her reasoning for requesting the trade away from the Aces. When asked directly by Bird, Plum described it as a chance to test her limits and prove her impact at the highest level of competition.
I think it goes back to what we talked about at the beginning, of, you could play for 20 years… you really get one swing at it. And I just remember thinking, in that offseason, ‘Okay: if you are really about it, and you really believe that you are as good as you think you are, and you think you can impact winning at the highest level’, there’s only one way to find out,
Plum said.
She credited Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts for embracing her as the right player for their team, which validated her decision to seek the new opportunity.
You also have to have a coach that is like, ‘No, that’s exactly who I want.’ And I give [Sparks coach] Lynne [Roberts] a ton of credit, she’s like, ‘You’re my person. Let’s do this.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, okay. So I’m not crazy,’
Plum explained.
Plum emphasized that her desire for the trade was not driven by ego or a need to be the best individual player, but rather by fitting into a team’s championship dynamics where different roles and strengths are crucial.
It has nothing to do with being the best player… On a championship team, you’re threes and fours are really going to be your killers… So I don’t have an ego in that. I know that.
She also highlighted the Sparks’ existing talent as an important factor influencing her decision, pointing to players such as Rickea Jackson, Cam Brink, and Dearica Hamby as valuable assets that made the team appealing.
Also, too, the talent that [the Sparks] have, at the time when I wasn’t on the team — Rickea [Jackson], Cam [Brink], obviously [Dearica Hamby] is here — there’s pieces. And also too… What am I gonna do, just go join another powerhouse? Why wouldn’t I just stay? That doesn’t make any sense, right?
What Kelsey Plum’s Trade Means for Her Career and the WNBA
Kelsey Plum’s willingness to leave the team where she spent the majority of her career reflects her confidence and ambition to test her true potential and impact. Her move to the Sparks, supported by coach Lynne Roberts’ trust and the team’s strong roster, sets Plum up to compete at the highest level and possibly chase championship success.
The trade also symbolizes a shift in the WNBA landscape, redistributing top talent across teams and potentially intensifying competition in upcoming seasons. For Plum, this fresh start offers a critical opportunity to demonstrate her value beyond scoring and thrive within a collaborative championship framework.