The Washington Huskieswomen's basketball team has an opportunity this season to reach heights the program hasn't seen since guard Kelsey Plum was with the program.While Plum was in the Pacific Northwest, the Huskies made the NCAA tournament multiple times and made their first (and only) Final Four appearance in 2016.Plum was not only the best player on Washington during that stretch, but was one of the best players in the nation during that stretch. She was a several-time all-conference selection and was a consensus All-American in 2017. The same season, she was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and the Associated Press Player of the Year.Plum parlayed that success into being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, and has been one of the most recognizable and well-decorated players in the Association since.In her nine years in WNBA with the San Antonio Stars/Las Vegas Aces and Los Angeles Sparks, Plum is a two-time champion (2022-23), five-time All-Star (2022-26), one-time Sixth Player of the Year (2021) and one-time All-WNBA first-team selection ('22).The one accolade that has eluded the former Husky in her career has been a regular season MVP. In the first half of the season, it seemed like Plum had a chance to obtain that trophy.In 12 games this season, Plum has averaged 23.9 points per game on 52.7% shooting from the floor (38.3% shooting from 3-point range). She's also averaged 6.4 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest while turning the ball over just 3.2 times on average.Kelsey Plum tonight 25 points 4 assists 9/16 FG pic.twitter.com/wLcbbThM4B Womens Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) May 14, 2026Plum's MVP-caliber season has been derailed by a soft tissue injury in her leg. She missed the last 11 games for the Sparks due to the ailment and was unable to participate in the All-Star Game on July 25. Los Angeles went 2-9 in the 11 games Plum missed.It's been reported for several days by various sources that the New York Liberty, Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury were interested in acquiring the five-time All-Star.Per a report on "X" from ESPN insiders Shams Charania and Kendra Andrews, the Mercury won out on the Plum sweepstakes and acquired Plum from Los Angeles in return for second-year guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round WNBA draft pick and a 2028 second-round draft pick.Despite Plum's injury, it might not be soon before Plum makes her debut in a Phoenix uniform. Per a report on "X" from ESPN'sAlexa Philippou, Plum was expected to play on a minute restriction for the Sparks if she wasn't dealt by the trade deadline Sunday.