The 2026 WNBA commerce deadline handed at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday with two accomplished offers. The Los Angeles Sparks got here out of it holding probably the most.
On Friday, the Toronto Tempo acquired Aneesah Morrow from the Connecticut Solar for Toronto’s 2028 second-round decide and the rights to Maria Kliundikova. Late Saturday night time, Los Angeles despatched Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round decide, and a 2028 second-rounder. Eleven of the league’s 15 groups didn’t make a commerce.
Let’s grade the 4 groups that did make a transfer on the deadline. Who got here out on high?
Los Angeles Sparks: A
Plum was retained this offseason on the Core Designation, the league’s model of a franchise tag, which gave her veto rights on any commerce. She signed for one 12 months at $999,999 after changing into eligible for a $1.4 million supermax. She has not performed since June 21 due to a decrease left leg harm, and he or she missed time earlier within the season with an ankle drawback. ESPN’s Kendra Andrews reported Sunday that Plum nonetheless intends to undergo the total free company course of in October.
The return was a first-round decide, a second-round decide, and a 25-year-old starter.
Plum spoke with reporters on Thursday, earlier than the commerce.
„I am not taking something private. I am gonna be the place my ft are,“ Plum stated. „I play for the Sparks, so on Sunday, I am gonna go well with up.“
Akoa Makani, 25, made the 2025 All-Rookie Crew as a first-year guard out of Cameroon. By way of 18 video games this season she is averaging 9.7 factors, 2.0 rebounds, and a couple of.5 assists whereas taking pictures 43.8% from the sphere and 43.6% from 3-point vary.
The Sparks had been 10-17 and had misplaced six straight when the deal was agreed to. They’d gone 2-9 throughout Plum’s absence. Los Angeles beat the Portland Fireplace 106-101 on Sunday afternoon, half an hour after the deadline, as Dearica Hamby scored 23 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds whereas Nneka Ogwumike scored 22 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Sparks acquired Plum underneath then common supervisor Raegan Pebley earlier than the 2025 season for the second general decide, which Seattle used on Dominique Malonga. The staff will get some appreciable property as an alternative of risking the veteran strolling away with nothing in return.
Phoenix Mercury: D+
Phoenix awoke Sunday at 11-19, six video games behind the eighth and ultimate playoff spot with 14 video games to play. The Mercury are 13 video games behind Minnesota. Their 104.7 offensive score is best than solely Seattle, Washington, and Connecticut.
Satou Sabally left in free company throughout the low season. Jovana Nogić, third on the staff in scoring at 10.4 factors, departed throughout the season for private causes.
Alyssa Thomas, 34, leads Phoenix with 8.3 assists per recreation, whereas Akoa Makani was the one different Mercury participant averaging greater than two.
Mercury common supervisor Nick U’Ren addressed the commerce in a staff assertion.
„Kelsey is without doubt one of the league’s most dynamic gamers,“ U’Ren stated. „She is a fierce competitor with a profitable mentality who impacts the sport on each ends of the ground. Her mixture of taking pictures, explosiveness and decision-making permits her to create offense at a excessive degree and makes her one of many league’s most full guards. We’ve got wished Kelsey right here for a very long time, and we’re excited to lastly carry her to Phoenix as we proceed to construct on our basis.“
Plum is 31 and averaging 23.9 factors and 6.4 assists in 12 video games for L.A. Each figures are profession highs. Per Elias Sports activities Bureau, that scoring common is the very best for any participant who has modified groups midseason with a minimal of 10 video games performed. It’s the fourth time in league historical past an All-Star has been traded throughout a season.
Phoenix despatched its personal 2027 first-round decide to a staff that has missed the playoffs 5 consecutive seasons. Ought to the Mercury miss the postseason this 12 months, they might be the primary staff to take action the 12 months after reaching the Finals since Phoenix in 2008.
For the Mercury, the effectiveness of the commerce hinges on the re-signing of Plum within the offseason.
Toronto Tempo: B+
Morrow, 23, was taken by Connecticut seventh general within the 2025 draft. By way of 20 video games this season, she averaged 11.6 factors, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 23.2 minutes, with 9 begins. Her 9 double-doubles are tied for eighth within the WNBA. She has raised her field-goal proportion from 37.5% as a rookie to 42.1%, whereas Hher 3-point proportion has gone from 24% to twenty-eight.4%.
Toronto averages 31.1 rebounds per recreation, third-fewest within the league. Isabelle Harrison, 32, leads the Tempo at 6.4 rebounds. Harrison has appeared in 16 video games and reaches free company after the season.
Tempo common supervisor Monica Wright Rogers commented within the staff’s launch.
„We’re thrilled to welcome Aneesah to our group,“ Wright Rogers stated. „She’s a relentless competitor who impacts the sport in so some ways, significantly along with her skill to rebound at a excessive degree. We consider she’s one of many rising frontcourt skills on this league, and we’re excited to see her play in a Tempo uniform.“
Morrow is underneath contract by means of 2027. Toronto holds a staff choice for 2028, and he or she would grow to be a restricted free agent in 2029. The Tempo waived guard Tima Pouye in a corresponding transfer.
Toronto is 10-18 in its first season whereas the transfer aids in a obvious weak point.
Connecticut Solar: D
The Solar are 7-22 and relocate to Houston after this season in a revival of the Comets. They traded a 23-year-old first-round decide for a 2028 second-rounder and the rights to Kliundikova. Los Angeles took Kliundikova eleventh general within the 2018 WNBA Draft. She final performed within the WNBA with Minnesota in 2025 and didn’t report back to Toronto this season after the enlargement draft.
Solar president Jen Rizzotti issued an announcement Friday.
„We’re extremely grateful for the time Aneesah spent with the Connecticut Solar and for the professionalism, dedication, and buy-in she confirmed from the second we drafted her,“ Rizzotti stated.
Brittney Griner and Aaliyah Edwards are out with knee accidents. Olivia Nelson-Ododa and rookie Raegan Beers are the wholesome put up gamers. Houston is banking on a marquee participant in an intriguing 2027 draft class.
The Cap Area No one Used
Washington and Portland maintain the 2 largest quantities of cap room within the league. The Mystics are 16-12 and holding the ultimate playoff place. The Fireplace are at the moment 11-19. Neither absorbed wage in trade for a draft decide. Seattle gave up a first-round decide for Brittney Sykes on the 2025 deadline.
Golden State is 19-9 in its second season. The Valkyries had been exploring the commerce market however didn’t full a deal.
Chicago traded a first-round decide for Jacy Sheldon within the offseason. The Sky don’t management their very own first-round choice in 2027 or 2028. Skylar Diggins is 35 and signed by means of 2027. Chicago moved her to the bench in early July, she was publicly not completely satisfied about it and was on the roster when the deadline handed.
Minnesota is 25-6. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve spoke to the Minnesota Star Tribune’s Cassidy Hettesheimer earlier than Sunday’s recreation towards Indiana.
„Our roster is full,“ Reeve stated. „We is not going to be making any trades.“
The Lynx signed ahead Chloe Bibby away from Chicago’s developmental roster on Saturday, the third such signing within the league this season after the Sparks added Kiana Williams in June and the Las Vegas Aces added Justine Pissott in July. Chicago had till 5 p.m. ET Saturday to match and declined.
As for the remainder of the W season, the World Cup break runs Aug. 31 by means of Sept. 17, and the common season ends Sept. 24.
