Trade deadlines rarely leave players time to process anything, but guard Kelsey Plum of the Phoenix Mercury didn't need long to feel like she belonged. A single text message made sure of that.

"It means everything," Plum said of hearing from Mercury legend Diana Taurasi, via Dylan Kane of The XI Sports. "She actually texted me today and just said there's no one she'd rather have, and so I'm just very honored."

This was due to the importance of the message, considering that Taurasi is Plum's idol. As a player who won two WNBA Championships, her word counted, coming just before Plum debuted in the team's 106-101 victory against the Chicago Sky, in which Plum had 20 points.

Plum's arrival in Phoenix came together fast, following a trade from the Los Angeles Sparks close to the Aug. 2 deadline. She had prepared to play for Los Angeles as late as Sunday, only to land in Chicago by 11 p.m. that same night to join her new team.

"It's just a lot of different dimensions going on," Plum joked about the sudden turnaround, referencing the Spider-Man movies she had been watching recently.

This didn’t stop her from immediately stepping up and making an impact. Playing off a 20-minute limitation due to being out for a lower leg injury since June 21, Plum was able to knock in the go-ahead 3-pointer in the closing moments of the game.

In addition to her performance, the front office in Phoenix is already looking ahead into the future.

Mercury Front Office Eyes Long-Term Future With Kelsey Plum

"I'll keep all my discussions with Kelsey private," general manager Nick U'Ren said, via multiple reporters. "We hope that she values her time with us here. We hope she's here for a long time."

Head coach Nate Tibbetts echoed that sentiment. "This isn't just a 14 or 15 game rental in our mind. This is something that we want to build upon," Tibbetts said, via Kane.

Plum's contract expires at the end of this season, and she has reportedly considered testing free agency. U'Ren acknowledged wanting to be aggressive in pursuing her rather than waiting, calling the chance to show her the organization's culture "really important."

With Phoenix sitting at 11-19, Plum's fit both now and beyond 2026 could shape the Mercury's direction for years to come.

Do you think Kelsey Plum sticks with the Mercury long-term, or will she test free agency? Comment down your thoughts below.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta