Kelsey Plum's Former Teammate Reacts to Sparks-Aces Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brett Gendoes | Last updated Jan 26, 2025 9:37 PM ET

The Las Vegas Aces have reportedly traded three-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks in a blockbuster three-team deal. ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news along with Ramona Shelburne, Alexa Philippou and Kendra Andrews.

Per ESPN, the deal sends Plum to Los Angeles, six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas and 6-foot-7 center Li Yueru to the Seattle Storm.

There is also draft compensation involved, with Seattle landing the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft from Los Angeles in exchange for the No. 9 pick. Las Vegas also received the No. 13 pick from the Sparks.

The Storm are acquiring the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft and Li Yueru from the Sparks in this three-team trade, with the Sparks getting No. 9 from Seattle and the Aces receiving No. 13 from LA, sources tell me, @ramonashelburne, @alexaphilippou and @kendra__andrews. https://t.co/Di1CWmMyTF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 27, 2025

The 31-year old Loyd saw her scoring production dip a bit last season, but she was still a WNBA All-Star for the sixth time. Averaging 16.9 points for her career, the two-time WNBA champion will bring Las Vegas another proven winner alongside reigning unanimous league MVP A'ja Wilson.

After finishing 8-32, the Sparks bring in Plum who also has two WNBA championships. As the basketball world has been reacting to this blockbuster deal, Sparks star Dearica Hamby posted her reaction on X.

https://t.co/6IIuhimGuy pic.twitter.com/oIlU6emi5g
— Dearica Marie Hamby (@dearicamarie) January 27, 2025

Hamby and Plum were teammates for five seasons in Las Vegas and one in San Antonio, winning a WNBA championship together in 2022. Traded to the Sparks in 2023, Hamby was not on the Aces roster that won another title that season, but she is now reunited with Plum in Los Angeles.

In 235 career games, Plum has averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. The first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft has played her entire career with the Aces organization (formerly the San Antonio Stars), and now embarks on a new journey in Los Angeles.

With Cameron Brink expected to return from ACL surgery at some point next season, Los Angeles will boast a star trio of Brink, Plum and Hamby. Looking to reenter the WNBA playoff picture after injuries contributed to a poor record last season, the Sparks have shaken things up with this blockbuster deal for Plum.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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