In a Wednesday night victory over the Wings, Reese tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block.
In a Wednesday night interview with sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, Reese expressed gratitude for the situation she is in.
“I’m just so happy here in Atlanta; I’m just grateful to be here,” Reese said. “It’s been a sisterhood. They’ve had my back — through the highs, through the lows. It’s just a joy. I feel safe, I feel loved.”
The Dream are eyeing a title, and they have an elite core around Reese that includes Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, among others.
They’ll have to get through some of the league’s top teams in a potential title run — they’re 0-1 against the Las Vegas Aces, 1-1 against the Minnesota Lynx, and 0-3 against the Golden State Valkyries this season. But if Reese continues to trend upwards, and if the cast around her continues to thrive, a championship could be headed to Atlanta.
In a Wednesday night victory over the Wings, Reese tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block.
In a Wednesday night interview with sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, Reese expressed gratitude for the situation she is in.
“I’m just so happy here in Atlanta; I’m just grateful to be here,” Reese said. “It’s been a sisterhood. They’ve had my back — through the highs, through the lows. It’s just a joy. I feel safe, I feel loved.”
The Dream are eyeing a title, and they have an elite core around Reese that includes Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, among others.
They’ll have to get through some of the league’s top teams in a potential title run — they’re 0-1 against the Las Vegas Aces, 1-1 against the Minnesota Lynx, and 0-3 against the Golden State Valkyries this season. But if Reese continues to trend upwards, and if the cast around her continues to thrive, a championship could be headed to Atlanta.
#Angel #Reese #perfect #home">Angel Reese has found a perfect home
Angel Reese had already established herself as one of the league’s top bigs in her first two seasons in Chicago. The former LSU star was named an All-Star in both her rookie and sophomore campaigns, broke a litany of rebounding records, and showcased her force on both ends of the floor.
But this season, she’s taken her game to a whole other level. While Reese’s individual accolades with the Sky were impressive, the team around her struggled, and the Sky found themselves near the bottom of league standings in back-to-back seasons. In April, Reese was traded to the Atlanta Dream, a team that already found themselves among the league’s best last year, but wanted to further bolster their frontcourt.
For the most part, it’s been a match made in heaven. Reese is averaging 15.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, and Atlanta is 17-10 and winners of four straight games.
This year, she became the fastest player in league history to record 1,000 rebounds (doing so in 78 games), and the fastest to reach 50 double-doubles (doing so in 65 games).
But, in part due to Reese’s play, they’ve already accrued wins against top teams like the Dallas Wings (who they are 3-0 against) and the Indiana Fever (who are they are 2-1 against), among others. The Dream have outscored opponents by 99 points in Reese’s minutes this season, the 21st-best net rating in the WNBA and the third-best on the Dream, per Hoops Junkie. Atlanta has had a rigorous schedule so far, and they have the third-easiest remaining schedule.
In a Wednesday night victory over the Wings, Reese tallied 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and a block.
In a Wednesday night interview with sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby, Reese expressed gratitude for the situation she is in.
“I’m just so happy here in Atlanta; I’m just grateful to be here,” Reese said. “It’s been a sisterhood. They’ve had my back — through the highs, through the lows. It’s just a joy. I feel safe, I feel loved.”
The Dream are eyeing a title, and they have an elite core around Reese that includes Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Brionna Jones, among others.
They’ll have to get through some of the league’s top teams in a potential title run — they’re 0-1 against the Las Vegas Aces, 1-1 against the Minnesota Lynx, and 0-3 against the Golden State Valkyries this season. But if Reese continues to trend upwards, and if the cast around her continues to thrive, a championship could be headed to Atlanta.
#Angel #Reese #perfect #home
Angel Reese had already established herself as one of the league’s top bigs in her…
#WNBA #midseason #trade #big #win #Toronto #Tempo">First WNBA midseason trade is a big win for Toronto Tempo
The Toronto Tempo have traded the rights to Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for forward Aneesah Morrow, bolstering their frontcourt just a few days before the midseason trade deadline.
Morrow has averaged 11.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, while shooting 42.1% from the field and 28.4% from three. She has recorded 9 double-doubles, tied for the 8th-most in the league. She is fresh off back-to-back 21-point performances against the Washington Mystics and Toronto Tempo.
Tempo general manager Monica Wright Rogers praised the trade in the official press release.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Aneesah to our organization,” said Rogers. “She’s a relentless competitor who impacts the game in so many ways, particularly with her ability to rebound at a high level. We believe she’s one of the emerging frontcourt talents in this league, and we’re excited to see her play in a Tempo uniform.”
Morrow was drafted 7th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and quickly established herself as one of the league’s top rebounders. In an official press release, Connecticut Sun President Jen Rizzotti thanked Morrow for her time in Connecticut.
“We are incredibly grateful for the time Aneesah spent with the Connecticut Sun and for the professionalism, commitment, and buy-in she showed from the moment we drafted her,” she said. “She embraced our vision, was a tremendous ambassador for our franchise both on and off the court, and built meaningful relationships with our fans, her teammates, and staff. We wish Aneesah nothing but continued success in the next chapter of her career.”
Maria Kliundikova, meanwhile, was drafted 11th overall in 2018, and last played in the WNBA last season, suiting up for the Minnesota Lynx and averaging 4.4 points and 3 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.
What Aneesah Morrow brings to the Toronto Tempo
The move is a big-time win for the Tempo, who are 10-18 and have struggled with frontcourt availability. Isabella Harrison has appeared in just 16 games, and Nyara Sabally in 19. Right away, Morrow brings young blood — she’s just 23 years old — to the WNBA’s expansion franchise.
Morrow has been pretty durable; she appeared in 41 games in her rookie season, and in 20 (of 29 games) so far this season in Connecticut.
Morrow will also provide a boost on the glass; as it currently stands, the Tempo average 31.1 rebounds per game, the third-fewest in the league. She averaged 13.8 rebounds per 36 minutes, the second-most in the league, trailing only Atlanta Dream forward Madina Okot. And, in her rookie season, she led the league in defensive rebounding rate last year (31.9%).
So, she’ll immediately impact one of the Tempo’s biggest weaknesses.
#WNBA #midseason #trade #big #win #Toronto #Tempo
The Toronto Tempo have traded the rights to Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick…
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 21: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks drives to the basket during the game against the New York Liberty on June 21, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kelsey Plum’s two-season tenure with the Los Angeles Sparks is likely coming to an end, per LA Times reporter Marisa Ingemi. Ingemi reported that the Sparks will most likely trade Plum by Sunday’s midseason trade deadline, and that they’ve gotten interest from across the league.
Couple of league sources I spoke with this morning said it's "most likely" that the Sparks will trade Kelsey Plum by the Sunday trade deadline. They've gotten multiple calls from other WNBA teams and the plan is to move her.
Plum is in the midst of a historic offensive season, albeit an injury-riddled one. She’s averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists, while shooting 52.7% from the field. All of those numbers are career highs. She’s also shooting 38.3% from three, her highest mark since 2023. But she’s appeared in just 12 of 27 games as she’s dealt with an ankle and a lower leg injury. The Sparks are currently out of the playoff mix, holding a 10-17 record and losers of 6 straight games.
Plum signed a one-year, $999,999 contract ahead of the season, after being traded to LA from Las Vegas in a three-team trade that saw the Seattle Storm get the No. 2 pick (and Li Yueru), and Las Vegas acquire Jewell Loyd. While Plum has individually excelled since arriving in Los Angeles, the team missed out on the playoffs in Year 1 and appears on track to do so again.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 21: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks drives to the basket during the game against the New York Liberty on June 21, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kelsey Plum’s two-season tenure with the Los Angeles Sparks is likely coming to an end, per LA Times reporter Marisa Ingemi. Ingemi reported that the Sparks will most likely trade Plum by Sunday’s midseason trade deadline, and that they’ve gotten interest from across the league.
Couple of league sources I spoke with this morning said it's "most likely" that the Sparks will trade Kelsey Plum by the Sunday trade deadline. They've gotten multiple calls from other WNBA teams and the plan is to move her.
Plum is in the midst of a historic offensive season, albeit an injury-riddled one. She’s averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists, while shooting 52.7% from the field. All of those numbers are career highs. She’s also shooting 38.3% from three, her highest mark since 2023. But she’s appeared in just 12 of 27 games as she’s dealt with an ankle and a lower leg injury. The Sparks are currently out of the playoff mix, holding a 10-17 record and losers of 6 straight games.
Plum signed a one-year, $999,999 contract ahead of the season, after being traded to LA from Las Vegas in a three-team trade that saw the Seattle Storm get the No. 2 pick (and Li Yueru), and Las Vegas acquire Jewell Loyd. While Plum has individually excelled since arriving in Los Angeles, the team missed out on the playoffs in Year 1 and appears on track to do so again.
#WNBA #AllStar #guard #traded #reports">WNBA All-Star guard will likely be traded, per reports
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 21: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks drives to the basket during the game against the New York Liberty on June 21, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kelsey Plum’s two-season tenure with the Los Angeles Sparks is likely coming to an end, per LA Times reporter Marisa Ingemi. Ingemi reported that the Sparks will most likely trade Plum by Sunday’s midseason trade deadline, and that they’ve gotten interest from across the league.
Couple of league sources I spoke with this morning said it's "most likely" that the Sparks will trade Kelsey Plum by the Sunday trade deadline. They've gotten multiple calls from other WNBA teams and the plan is to move her.
Plum is in the midst of a historic offensive season, albeit an injury-riddled one. She’s averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists, while shooting 52.7% from the field. All of those numbers are career highs. She’s also shooting 38.3% from three, her highest mark since 2023. But she’s appeared in just 12 of 27 games as she’s dealt with an ankle and a lower leg injury. The Sparks are currently out of the playoff mix, holding a 10-17 record and losers of 6 straight games.
Plum signed a one-year, $999,999 contract ahead of the season, after being traded to LA from Las Vegas in a three-team trade that saw the Seattle Storm get the No. 2 pick (and Li Yueru), and Las Vegas acquire Jewell Loyd. While Plum has individually excelled since arriving in Los Angeles, the team missed out on the playoffs in Year 1 and appears on track to do so again.
#WNBA #AllStar #guard #traded #reports
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 21: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks drives…
The Los Angeles Sparks are 10-17, and as such, star guard Kelsey Plum could be on the move. LA Times reporter Marisa Ingemi reported on Wednesday that the Sparks will most likely trade Plum by Sunday’s WNBA midseason trade deadline — and that they’ve gotten interest from multiples teams across the league.
It’s a notable development, as the 31-year-old has established herself as one of the best guards in the league. Plum is in the middle of a career year in which she’s averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists, while shooting 52.7% from the field and 38.3% from three. At the same time, she’s had an injury-riddled campaign; she’s appeared in just 12 of 27 games due to multiple lower leg injuries.
While there hasn’t been much concrete reporting about where Plum could land, there are several destinations that could make a lot of sense. The Sparks have until Sunday at 2pm ET to make their decision.
Here’s where she might land.
The best fit: Golden State Valkyries
The Valkyries have lost back-to-back games (albeit one without Gabby Williams) but have otherwise been one of the season’s best storylines. They’re 19-9 and poised for a playoff run, but, despite their league-best defense could they be missing some star power? Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, and Janelle Salaun have all had big-time season, but none can create for themselves at such high volume the way Plum can.
Golden State could be making a move with the intention of winning a title now, and based on how they’ve performed this season, that’s certainly within the realm of possibility. But, if they can receive some assurance from Plum that she’d re-sign in the offseason — she’s currently on an expiring $999,999 contract — that’d make a trade all the more sensical.
Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase is very familiar with Plum, having coached her in Las Vegas, which could make the midseason transition even easier. Plum would be a great fit alongside Burton, Williams, and the rest of the Golden State cast.
Second-best option: Dallas Wings
The Wings could be going all-in ahead of the trade deadline. That’s what general manager Curt Miller indicated last week at All-Star weekend.
“You can’t be afraid to rip the Band-Aid off and make moves to try and go for it,” he said. “You’re not always in a championship window.”
Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard have both had big-time seasons this year, and Azzi Fudd is having an outstanding rookie campaign. But, could Dallas be interested in flipping Arike Ogunbowale, who is shooting just 37.8% from the field, for a more effective offensive player? Or, is there a way to offload Alanna Smith, who has struggled in a surprisingly limited role so far this season?
Plum will give them an undoubtable boost on the offensive end, and create a lethal backcourt trio alongside Bueckers and Fudd. But, some frontcourt defensive questions remain, even if Dallas pulls the trigger on this transaction.
Dark horse team: Washington Mystics
The Mystics are in the playoff hunt and have a very bright future, in large part due to a core led by Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron, and Shakira Austin. But, they’re probably not championship contenders, at least not right now. So, they’ll have to think twice before mortgaging their future for a player who may choose not to re-sign in the offseason.
Still, Washington has one of the league’s top defenses, meaning they could be a good landing spot for Plum, who at times has been a defensive liabiliy (Sydney Johnson’s system shoudl allow her to thrive). The Mystics have plenty of young players and draft assets they could move in a trade. The only question is whether it’s worth it to go all-in now, when they’re probably still a year or two away from being championship contenders.
Plum could be a perfect fit in Golden State. The Sparks will want future draft picks, and the Valkyries have all of theirs moving plus, plus an additional second-round pick from Seattle via the Flau’Jae Johnson trade. Golden State could seemingly send Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and a first-round pick or two to Los Angeles for Plum. In my mind, that would immediately make Golden State a real threat to win it all.
Why Kelsey Plum is perfect for the Valkyries
Plum has been out for the last month with a soft tissue strain in her left leg. If she can heal from that injury before the end of the regular season, she could give Golden State the halfcourt scoring and playmaking it desperately needs to make a deep playoff run.
Plum dropped 43 points in 37 minutes in an overtime thriller against Phoenix on June 13 in her third-to-last game before the injury that showed the full extent of her brilliance. At age-31, she still has plenty of burst as a ball handler to get into the paint and collapse the opposing defense. Though she’s only 5’8, Plum has always been a very good rim finisher at 64.7% within three-feet, per basketball-reference. She’s money in the short mid-range area too when she can’t get all the way to the rim, with an astounding 48% career field goal percentage from 3-10 feet.
Plum is also one of the league’s better three-point shooters. She’s making 38.3 percent of her triples on 9.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions this year, which is an outstanding blend of both volume and accuracy. She has a super quick trigger on spot-up attempts, which makes her a valuable floor spacer when she doesn’t have the ball.
Golden State has been a terrible two-point scoring team this season, ranking dead last with a 47.8% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plum is making an absurd 63.6% of her twos in a small sample of 12 games this year. Her two-point scoring efficiency had fallen off a bit the previous two seasons, but she’s still good enough to help Golden State majorly in that department. She’s also a natural fit for a team leading the WNBA in three-point attempts this season.
Plum’s playmaking is still really good, too. While Veronica Burton has done an excellent job as Golden State’s de facto point guard this season, Plum is a more natural floor general who brings increased downhill scoring juice, which helps unlock the Valkyries’ drive-and-kick game. Plum has always blended scoring and playmaking at a high level, and that’s exactly what Golden State needs to take the next step offensively.
The issue for Plum has always been defensively. She’ll get targeted on that end because of her lack of length, and she can have issues fighting over a good screen. The Valkyries could insulate her defensively better than anyone, with two defensive monsters in Burton and Gabby Williams on the wings, plus a really good rim protector in Kiah Stokes inside. The Valkyries’ whole defensive system is geared toward shutting off the paint, and they have the bodies to keep Plum out of trouble.
Golden State has the cap space to re-sign Plum in the offseason. Even if they have bigger plans for the winter, Plum would make a lot of sense even as a rental. The championship picture in the W is pretty wide open with Napheesa Collier yet to play a game (though she’s returning soon) and the Aces aging a bit and also lacking depth around A’Ja Wilson.
The Valkyries are already so good that maybe they feel like they don’t need to take a big swing on an iffy defensive player like Plum who doesn’t really fit their identity. It’s just hard to win it all without real balance, and Plum would give Golden State the halfcourt offensive boost it needs to reach another level.
The Sparks already gave up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (All-Star Dominque Malonga) to get Plum, but it hasn’t worked out. They can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Golden State feels like the ideal partner with the trade deadline approaching.
Plum could be a perfect fit in Golden State. The Sparks will want future draft picks, and the Valkyries have all of theirs moving plus, plus an additional second-round pick from Seattle via the Flau’Jae Johnson trade. Golden State could seemingly send Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and a first-round pick or two to Los Angeles for Plum. In my mind, that would immediately make Golden State a real threat to win it all.
Why Kelsey Plum is perfect for the Valkyries
Plum has been out for the last month with a soft tissue strain in her left leg. If she can heal from that injury before the end of the regular season, she could give Golden State the halfcourt scoring and playmaking it desperately needs to make a deep playoff run.
Plum dropped 43 points in 37 minutes in an overtime thriller against Phoenix on June 13 in her third-to-last game before the injury that showed the full extent of her brilliance. At age-31, she still has plenty of burst as a ball handler to get into the paint and collapse the opposing defense. Though she’s only 5’8, Plum has always been a very good rim finisher at 64.7% within three-feet, per basketball-reference. She’s money in the short mid-range area too when she can’t get all the way to the rim, with an astounding 48% career field goal percentage from 3-10 feet.
Plum is also one of the league’s better three-point shooters. She’s making 38.3 percent of her triples on 9.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions this year, which is an outstanding blend of both volume and accuracy. She has a super quick trigger on spot-up attempts, which makes her a valuable floor spacer when she doesn’t have the ball.
Golden State has been a terrible two-point scoring team this season, ranking dead last with a 47.8% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plum is making an absurd 63.6% of her twos in a small sample of 12 games this year. Her two-point scoring efficiency had fallen off a bit the previous two seasons, but she’s still good enough to help Golden State majorly in that department. She’s also a natural fit for a team leading the WNBA in three-point attempts this season.
Plum’s playmaking is still really good, too. While Veronica Burton has done an excellent job as Golden State’s de facto point guard this season, Plum is a more natural floor general who brings increased downhill scoring juice, which helps unlock the Valkyries’ drive-and-kick game. Plum has always blended scoring and playmaking at a high level, and that’s exactly what Golden State needs to take the next step offensively.
The issue for Plum has always been defensively. She’ll get targeted on that end because of her lack of length, and she can have issues fighting over a good screen. The Valkyries could insulate her defensively better than anyone, with two defensive monsters in Burton and Gabby Williams on the wings, plus a really good rim protector in Kiah Stokes inside. The Valkyries’ whole defensive system is geared toward shutting off the paint, and they have the bodies to keep Plum out of trouble.
Golden State has the cap space to re-sign Plum in the offseason. Even if they have bigger plans for the winter, Plum would make a lot of sense even as a rental. The championship picture in the W is pretty wide open with Napheesa Collier yet to play a game (though she’s returning soon) and the Aces aging a bit and also lacking depth around A’Ja Wilson.
The Valkyries are already so good that maybe they feel like they don’t need to take a big swing on an iffy defensive player like Plum who doesn’t really fit their identity. It’s just hard to win it all without real balance, and Plum would give Golden State the halfcourt offensive boost it needs to reach another level.
The Sparks already gave up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (All-Star Dominque Malonga) to get Plum, but it hasn’t worked out. They can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Golden State feels like the ideal partner with the trade deadline approaching.
#Kelsey #Plum #trade #Golden #State #Valkyries #sense #happen">Kelsey Plum trade to Golden State Valkyries makes too much sense not to happen
Few expansion teams in the modern history of American sports have ever established an identity as quickly and successfully as the Golden State Valkyries. As they debuted in the WNBA last season, the Valkyries immediately became known as a nasty defensive team that shut off the paint, pressured the ball, and got back in transition. It was a formula that helped Golden State punch a ticket to the playoffs, break the league record for most wins by a first-year team, and earn Natalie Nakase Coach of the Year honors.
The Valkyries’ defense has only gotten better this season, and it’s turned them into one of the best teams in the WNBA. Golden State exits the All-Star break with the W’s second-best record at 19-8, including a recent nine-game winning streak. The Valks are No. 1 in defensive rating, and only the Lynx are within shouting distance.
At this point, the Valkyries are simply too good to settle for being an uplifting story. If they’re really going to compete for a championship, they have to address the other end of the floor. Golden State’s offense is middling, ranking No. 8 out of 15 teams in points per 100 possessions. The best thing you can say about the Valkyries’ offense is they limit turnovers, jack threes, and hit the offensive glass hard. That works for the regular season, but creation is king in the playoffs, and the Valkyries still don’t have a ton of it.
With the Aug. 2 trade deadline looming, the Valkyries have a golden opportunity to load up for a championship run, and there’s one name that makes a ton of sense.
Kelsey Plum is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and she doesn’t intend to re-sign with the Los Angeles Sparks, according to WNBA insider Annie Costabile. Costabile reports that the Sparks haven’t shopped Plum, but they also can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Los Angeles is sitting at 10-16 on the year, and it sure feels like the only thing left to do this season is tank for JuJu Watkins ahead of the 2027 WNBA Draft.
Plum could be a perfect fit in Golden State. The Sparks will want future draft picks, and the Valkyries have all of theirs moving plus, plus an additional second-round pick from Seattle via the Flau’Jae Johnson trade. Golden State could seemingly send Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and a first-round pick or two to Los Angeles for Plum. In my mind, that would immediately make Golden State a real threat to win it all.
Why Kelsey Plum is perfect for the Valkyries
Plum has been out for the last month with a soft tissue strain in her left leg. If she can heal from that injury before the end of the regular season, she could give Golden State the halfcourt scoring and playmaking it desperately needs to make a deep playoff run.
Plum dropped 43 points in 37 minutes in an overtime thriller against Phoenix on June 13 in her third-to-last game before the injury that showed the full extent of her brilliance. At age-31, she still has plenty of burst as a ball handler to get into the paint and collapse the opposing defense. Though she’s only 5’8, Plum has always been a very good rim finisher at 64.7% within three-feet, per basketball-reference. She’s money in the short mid-range area too when she can’t get all the way to the rim, with an astounding 48% career field goal percentage from 3-10 feet.
Plum is also one of the league’s better three-point shooters. She’s making 38.3 percent of her triples on 9.6 three-point attempts per 100 possessions this year, which is an outstanding blend of both volume and accuracy. She has a super quick trigger on spot-up attempts, which makes her a valuable floor spacer when she doesn’t have the ball.
Golden State has been a terrible two-point scoring team this season, ranking dead last with a 47.8% field goal percentage inside the arc. Plum is making an absurd 63.6% of her twos in a small sample of 12 games this year. Her two-point scoring efficiency had fallen off a bit the previous two seasons, but she’s still good enough to help Golden State majorly in that department. She’s also a natural fit for a team leading the WNBA in three-point attempts this season.
Plum’s playmaking is still really good, too. While Veronica Burton has done an excellent job as Golden State’s de facto point guard this season, Plum is a more natural floor general who brings increased downhill scoring juice, which helps unlock the Valkyries’ drive-and-kick game. Plum has always blended scoring and playmaking at a high level, and that’s exactly what Golden State needs to take the next step offensively.
The issue for Plum has always been defensively. She’ll get targeted on that end because of her lack of length, and she can have issues fighting over a good screen. The Valkyries could insulate her defensively better than anyone, with two defensive monsters in Burton and Gabby Williams on the wings, plus a really good rim protector in Kiah Stokes inside. The Valkyries’ whole defensive system is geared toward shutting off the paint, and they have the bodies to keep Plum out of trouble.
Golden State has the cap space to re-sign Plum in the offseason. Even if they have bigger plans for the winter, Plum would make a lot of sense even as a rental. The championship picture in the W is pretty wide open with Napheesa Collier yet to play a game (though she’s returning soon) and the Aces aging a bit and also lacking depth around A’Ja Wilson.
The Valkyries are already so good that maybe they feel like they don’t need to take a big swing on an iffy defensive player like Plum who doesn’t really fit their identity. It’s just hard to win it all without real balance, and Plum would give Golden State the halfcourt offensive boost it needs to reach another level.
The Sparks already gave up the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (All-Star Dominque Malonga) to get Plum, but it hasn’t worked out. They can’t afford to lose her for nothing. Golden State feels like the ideal partner with the trade deadline approaching.
The WNBA trade deadline is just around the corner — coming up on Sunday at 2 pm ET — and while activity has historically been pretty limited in the days leading up to the deadline, that’s begun to change as of late.
But, over the past few years, midseason transactions have become more commonplace. As the deadline nears, let’s take a look at which transactions proved successful, and which ones didn’t.
NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces (2025)
The Aces traded for NaLyssa Smith last June, and she ended up being the missing piece in their title run. Smith, who had begun the year with the Dallas Wings, immediately became an impact player alongside A’ja Wilson in Las Vegas.
In the first half of the year in Dallas, she had averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while shooting just 42.1% from the field. But in the final 27 games of the season with Las Vegas, Smith bumped that average to 8.2 points on 55.6% shooting. This season, she is averaging 11.8 points on a scorching-hot 66.7% shooting.
Smith was traded to the Wings in exchange for the Aces’ 2027 first-round draft pick; how impactful that player ends up being remains to be seen. Regardless, because the move resulted in a title, it’ll be hard to argue that it’s unsuccessful in any way.
DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx (2025)
The Minnesota Lynx traded for DiJonai Carrington ahead of the trade deadline, in exchange for Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson and a 2027 second-round draft pick. Carrington fit seamlessly — she averaged 8.6 points off the bench, while shooting 45.5% from beyond the arc in 11 regular-season games. But in the second game of the playoffs, she suffered a left mid-foot sprain that ruled her out of the rest of the playoffs.
Ultimately, the Lynx lost to the Mercury in the Semi-Finals. But it made sense for them to go out and pursue Carrington, since Miller wasn’t playing, Samuelson was out for the season, and a championship appeared within each.
Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun (2024)
The Sun went all-in ahead of the 2024 playoffs, and while it didn’t pan out, it made sense to go all-in at the time. Connecticut went on to lose in Game 5 of the Semi-Finals, but Mabrey gave them a boost through that playoffs and very well could have been the missing piece to a title.
The Sun received Mabrey and a 2025 second-round draft pick in exchange for Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, a 2025 first-round draft pick, and the right to swap 2026 first-round picks. Mabrey had a career year for Connecticut last season, but ultimately walked away in free agency to join the Toronto Tempo.
In hindsight, the 2024 midseason trade didn’t pan out for the Sun and cost them crucial draft capital. But, considering that the Sun were one of the WNBA’s best teams, and DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, and Brionna Jones were all potentially going to depart in the offseason, it made sense for them to go all-in ahead of the 2024 playoffs and add a talented scorer to a veteran group eager to win a franchise-first title.
Myisha Hines-Allen to the Minnesota Lynx (2024)
The Lynx traded for then-Washington Mystics forward Myisha Hines-Allen ahead of the 2024 playoffs, in exchange for Olivia Epoupa, forward Sika Koné, and a second-round pick in the 2026 WNBA draft.
Hines-Allen joined Minnesota to help bolster the frontcourt ahead of their Finals run. She averaged 4 points and 3.3 rebounds off the bench in 10 playoff games that season, but ultimately fell out of the rotation. The former Louisville star didn’t end up being the missing piece for the Lynx, who fell to the New York Liberty in the Finals.
But, like the Marina Mabrey trade, it made sense for a championship contender to make a move in hopes of bolstering their roster in the short-term.
Which championship contenders will look to add a final piece to their roster ahead of the trade deadline? It worked out for the Aces last year, and other teams may increasingly follow suit.
#Revisiting #biggest #WNBA #midseason #trades
The WNBA trade deadline is just around the corner — coming up on Sunday at…
#big #winners #WNBA #AllStar #Weekend">The 4 big winners from WNBA All-Star Weekend
WNBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and it was an action-packed couple of days in Chicago. The competition began on Friday night, as Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiedeman, Bridget Carleton, Marina Mabrey, Rhyne Howard, and Janelle Salaun battled in the Three-Point Contest.
Then, on Saturday night, Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 in the All-Star game, headlined by big performances from Jonquel Jones, Allisha Gray, Caitlin Clark, and Nneka Ogwumike, among others.
Here were the biggest winners from All-Star weekend.
The Dallas Wings guard became the first-ever rookie to win the Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend. Fudd made 17 of 27 threes in the first round, before ultimately edging out Bridget Carleton in the final round with a score of 30 (after hitting 21 of 27 threes). Portland Fire guard Bridget Carleton came in second place.
“It’s fun to do because — and I don’t want to sound cocky — but it’s easy to me, just the set shot,” Fudd said after the win. “Take the ball from the rack; it really is muscle memory. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was young.”
Fudd is shooting 38.7% from three in her rookie season. As the winner of the three-point shootout, she earned a $70,000 prize.
Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm
The 20-year-old French phenom dunked for the first time in her WNBA career on Saturday night. Malonga, named an All-Star in her second season, finished the All-Star game with 12 points and 13 rebounds, but no moment was as big as her breakaway slam. She joins Lisa Leslie, Jonquel Jones, Brittney Griner, and Sylvia Fowles as players to have dunked in WNBA history.
Malonga is having a superb sophomore campaign for the Storm, averaging 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.6% from the field.
Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
Jonquel Jones’ list of accolades keeps on growing. The Liberty star won All-Star Game MVP after pouring in 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, adding to her collection of hardware that includes a Finals MVP (2024), a Commissioner’s Cup MVP (2023), a league MVP (2021), and six All-Star appearances. Jones became the only player in WNBA history with all four MVP awards.
Jones’ weekend, however, was somehow tainted by the fact that a controversial comment of hers was picked up on Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman’s StudBudz stream on Thursday night. Jones told Williams that the Minnesota Lynx deserved to win more than the Liberty in 2024, a comment that almost instantly went viral and angered Liberty fans.
“What I said, it didn’t really come out in the way that I meant it,” Jones said Saturday, while visibly emotional. “What I was just saying is that you can have a team that has a lot of chemistry, that is great on paper, that has had a great season, and it’s still not enough to get it done, and that’s what I was trying to explain to her with that whole clip.
Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) and Natisha Hiedeman (Seattle Storm)
It was the second consecutive year of the StudBudz stream, and it was once again a huge hit. The 24/7 livestream did not come without its controversial moments (see: above), but Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman successfully took fans behind the scenes for the biggest weekend of the WNBA season while continuing to showcase their own inimitable personalities.
On top of the StudBudz stream, both players also had their own on-court responsibilities at All-Star, too.
Williams appeared in her third All-Star Game, adding 12 points and 7 assists in 19 minutes off the bench. Hiedeman was not an All-Star, but appeared in the Three-Point Contest. (Hiedeman tallied the lowest score in the field, finishing with 17 points in the opening round).
Williams and Hiedeman have now become an integral part of the All-Star Weekend viewing experience.
#big #winners #WNBA #AllStar #Weekend
WNBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and it was an action-packed couple of days…
