Jun 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) celebrates after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in overtime at Mortgage Matchup Center. Rick Scuteri-Imagn ImagesKelsey Plum has emerged as the biggest name to watch ahead of the WNBA trade deadline on Sunday, August 2, at 3 p.m. ET.According to a new report, at least three teams have inquired about the Los Angeles Sparks guard as the front office weighs whether to move her rather than risk losing her for nothing in free agency this offseason.Madeline Kenney Says 3 Teams Are Interested in Kelsey Plum Ahead of Trade DeadlinePlum, a five-time WNBA All-Star nicknamed Plum Dawg, signed a one-year, $999,999 deal to return to Los Angeles for the 2026 season.Shell hit unrestricted free agency at seasons end, and reports have indicated she doesnt intend to re-sign with the Sparks.That could be a big part of why the front office is reportedly working the phones before Sundays deadline rather than letting her walk for nothing.Plum hasnt played since June 21 because of a lower left leg injury an absence that has now stretched to more than a month and cost her a trip to the 2026 All-Star Game in Chicago, where Kahleah Copper was named her replacement.SEE ALSO:A Hero, Sickening WNBA World Divided As Sophie Cunningham Shows Love to Fans Anti-Trans-Athlete RalliesBefore going down, though, she was putting together arguably the best season of her career: 23.9 points per game (a career high), 6.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds while shooting a career-best 52.7% from the field and 38.3% from the three-point line.She returned to full practice for the first time in five weeks on Thursday, which will certainly raise her price tag on the trade market.The Sparks, meanwhile, are reeling. Los Angeles has dropped six straight games and sits at 10-17, good for 11th in the league standings. Its a rough stretch that already cost general manager Raegan Pebley her job earlier this summer.With the playoffs increasingly out of reach, L.A. is reportedly exploring deals that would bring back valuable assets rather than watching Plum leave in free agency empty-handed.Part of the expectation that she wont re-sign, according to reports, is that she wants to be in a genuine win-now situation.Thats where the Plum sweepstakes come in.New York Post reporter Madeline Kenney reported that the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, and Atlanta Dream have all thrown their hats in the ring, though New Yorks talks have reportedly cooled.The Liberty are among the teams that have thrown their hat in the Kelsey Plum sweepstakes ahead of Sundays WNBA trade deadline Other teams include the Mercury and Dream, sources said New Yorks conversations involving Plum have since stalled.For the Liberty, the appeal is obvious. New York is already loaded, and Plum, who ranked second in the WNBA in scoring before her injury, would make an elite offense even scarier.A potential lineup of Sabrina Ionescu, Plum, Leonie Fiebich, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones is the kind of offensive firepower that would be nearly impossible to game-plan against.Atlantas interest centers on need. The Dream could use another proven bucket-getter to pair with their young core, and Plums shot creation would give them a different look late in games.Likewise, Phoenixs case might be the most pressing. The Mercury sits several games back of the final playoff spot and will likely need a near-perfect stretch to get in.Adding Plum alongside Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and DeWanna Bonner would instantly push Phoenix into tier-one contender territory, and her gravity as an off-ball shooter would open up driving lanes for the rest of that veteran core.Plum herself addressed the trade speculation, choosing her words carefully.The thing about professional sports is its business, she told reporters. At the end of the day, people have to do whats best for them, and I respect that. And Im not taking anything personal. For me, Im going to be where my feet are.MORE:Bat Signal for a Culture War Jemele Hill Feels Empathy for Caitlin Clark Since She Didnt Ask to Be PoliticizedShe added that, regardless of the noise, she plans to suit up for the Sparks on Sunday even if that means playing under a minutes restriction as she works her way back from injury.In any case, this isnt Plums first time at the center of trade speculation. She originally arrived in Los Angeles via a blockbuster three-team trade with the Las Vegas Aces and the Seattle Storm that also sent Jewell Loyd to the Aces.She re-signed with the Sparks on a one-year deal on April 12, setting up exactly the kind of pending free-agency scenario now driving Sundays speculation.This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.