LOS ANGELES — Kelsey Plum was back at Sparks practice on Thursday, but the question is how much longer she will remain with the team ahead of Sunday’s WNBA trade deadline.
When asked what she wants to happen, the All-Star guard’s answer was direct and coy.
“I want to help my team win games,” Plum told the Southern California News Group.
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said the organization is weighing several options. Roberts said she has input, but roster transactions are not her decision.
“Everything is on the table,” Roberts said. “We’re not where we want to be and so we’ve got to evaluate everything and maybe that’s keep the group intact, maybe it’s not. We’ve got to evaluate everything. We have to figure out what we need to do to get this franchise where it needs to be.”
Plum, who turns 32 in late August, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is averaging a career-high 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 52.7% from the field.
The two-time WNBA champion was acquired by the Sparks in a three-team trade with the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm on Feb. 1, 2025. The Sparks sent the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft to Seattle, which was used to draft All-Star center Dominque Malonga. At the same time, Seattle sent Jewell Loyd to the Aces to replace Plum.
The Sparks are 7-5 with Plum in the active lineup this season. However, the five-time All-Star has missed 15 games this season due to injuries, including the past 11 games over five weeks with a lower leg injury.
“It’s been a very humbling experience, but I’m just grateful to be back,” Plum shared.
Roberts said Plum looked good in her first practice with the team since late June.
“It’s just nice to have her back out there,” Roberts said. “She just makes things go and she can make plays that most people can’t in the league so it’s good to have her back out there.”
The Sparks (10-17) are mired in a season-long six-game losing streak. They are five games out of eighth place – the final playoff spot – with 17 games left in the regular season.
“We can make a push,” Roberts said, “but we have to do it one at a time.”
The Sparks are 12th in the standings and on the verge of missing the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.
The WNBA trade deadline is Sunday at noon PT, which is 30 minutes before the Sparks tip off against the Portland Fire in Oregon.
“You have to focus on what you can control,” Roberts continued. “And what I can control is getting our team ready to play Portland and be ready to play.”
Plum said she’s planning on coming off the bench and playing Sunday, but she addressed the possibility of being traded.
“The thing about professional sports is, it’s a business,” Plum said after Thursday’s practice at Crypto.com Arena. “At the end of the day, people have to do what’s best for them, and I respect that. I’m not taking anything personal. For me, I’m going to be where my feet are. I play for the Sparks. On Sunday, I’m going to suit up. I’m going to give them whatever minute restriction, fill in the blank minutes of hell. Coming off the bench, and I’m actually really excited about it.”
Plum, who makes $999,999 this season, will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, free to sign with any of the league’s 15 teams.
She did not directly answer a question about whether she wants to re-sign with the Sparks for next season. Any team interested in trading for her would likely want to believe there was a chance to sign her to a multiyear deal before giving up assets to get her now vs. pursuing her as a free agent in the offseason.
“I think for me, and anyone knows this that’s been around professional sports, you have to be where your feet are,” Plum continued. “There’s a lot of things that are in the unknown, and those are things outside of my control. For me, my control is to be here, play the highest level of basketball I can possibly play and help my team win games.”
Plum said she wants to be an asset and add to the chemistry between starting guards Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins.
“I’m coming in to try to enhance and help,” Plum said. “I’m not trying to take away from anything. I’m excited to get the full team back together and get it going.”
BENCH ROTATION
Sparks guard Kate Martin has received limited playing time during the team’s six-game losing streak, logging a total of five minutes on the court in three appearances.
She’s also received three DNP/Coach’s Decisions.
Martin, who is averaging 2.4 points in 6.9 minutes in 15 games, received more playing time (upward of 18 minutes) as a developmental contract player than she is currently getting on a standard contract, which she signed on July 6.
The third-year guard out of Iowa, who played her rookie season alongside Plum in Las Vegas, said she’s focused on controlling what she can control.
“Whether I play or I don’t, that’s out of my control,” Martin said. “But what is in my control is continuing to be ready.”