Sparks land Kelsey Plum in blockbuster trade with Aces, Storm

The Los Angeles Sparks pulled off a blockbuster deal on Sunday, trading for All-Star guard Kelsey Plum as part of a three-team deal that included Jewell Lloyd as well.

The Sparks filled their biggest roster need in a big way on Sunday.

As part of a three-team deal with the Aces and Storm, the Sparks have traded for point guard Kelsey Plum, as first reported by Shams Charania, Ramona Shelburne, Alexa Philippou and Kendra Andrews all of ESPN.

Jewell Lloyd, who requested a trade earlier this offseason, will go the Aces and Seattle will acquire the No. 2 pick in the draft.

The Sparks are trading the No. 2 pick along with Li Yueru to the Storm. Seattle will send Lloyd to the Aces while Vegas gets the No. 13 pick, the first pick of the second round, from the Sparks.

LA will receive the No. 9 pick from Seattle, effectively moving down seven spots to acquire Plum. Their only other pick in the draft will be the first pick of the third round.

According to Philippou, those aren’t the only picks that will be included. Seattle will receive another first round pick from the Aces in 2026 while the Sparks will receive Seattle’s second round pick in 2026.

The Sparks get an elite point guard in Plum, filling the biggest hole in the roster. Last season, Plum averaged 17.8 points on 42.3% shooting overall and 36.8% 3-point shooting, which were down from each of her previous three seasons with the Aces.

Over the last four seasons, during which she broke out in Vegas, Plum has averaged 18.1 points while shooting 45% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc, along with 4.4 assists per contest.

In the 2022 season, Plum finished third in MVP voting, was First-Team All-WNBA, and was fourth in Most Improved voting. She has also been named an All-Star each of the last two years.

Last season, the Sparks' glaring need was at point guard, which made missing out on the No. 1 pick and Paige Bueckers a brutal pill to swallow. A consolation prize of Plum is more than suitable, though.

Now, the franchise will likely head into the 2025 season with a core of Plum, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby. And safe to say Hamby, who played with Plum in Las Vegas, is a fan of the deal.

It’s an exciting deal for the Sparks, who should now be a much more competitive side in 2025.

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