The Phoenix Mercury acquired Kelsey Plum in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a first-round pick in 2027, and a second-round pick in 2028, on Aug. 1, a day before the trade deadline. The trade couldn't have happened at a worse time for the Chicago Sky and their head coach Tyler Marsh.

The Sky were set to face the Phoenix two days later and probably with Plum in the lineup. When reporters asked Marsh about the trade, he revealed a hilarious text reply from Plum.

"I texted her, and she just responded, 'See you on Monday,'" Marsh told reporters, per Chicago State of Mind Sports. "Anytime you have the opportunity to add a player like KP, you do it."

Plum took the court on Monday and proved to be a nightmare for the Sky. Plum is one of the best scorers in the league; adding her would be a no-brainer for any team.

Marsh and Plum have known each other for a long time. He served as the assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces from 2022-24, while Plum also played for the Aces.

In 2025, Marsh became Sky HC while Plum was traded to the LA Sparks.

Plum's immediate impact proved Marsh's concern justified. She delivered a historic performance for her new team before even landing in Phoenix.

Kelsey Plum sends warning to WNBA teams with her debut performance

Plum was traded on Aug. 1, and two days later she was in Chicago, playing her first game as a Phoenix player, ending the game with a win in a historic performance.

She scored 20 points coming off the bench in the 106-101 win. But the highlight of the game was her game-winning 3-pointer over Kamilla Cardoso. The shot came while the Mercury trailed by a point in about a minute remaining in the game.

"It's a cocktail for success, as far as I’m concerned," Kelsey Plum said about her joining the Mercury before the Sky game on Monday, per The Athletic.

With the game-winning shot, she became the first player in WNBA history to hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the final minute of her debut. She is also the second in the same category to make a game-winning field goal in a debut.

Phoenix's Kahleah Copper added a game-high 31 points. Alyssa Thomas recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists.

That said, do you think Kelsey Plum can help the Mercury claim the title? Let us know in the comments.

Read More at Her Sports Nation!

Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore