The Phoenix Mercury lost to the Washington Mystics 95-75 on Sunday in a blowout. While the loss stings and drops the Mercury to 12-22, the more important issue in the short term is the status of veteran guard Kelsey Plum.
She was ruled out for Phoenix early in the fourth quarter due to “left calf tightness.” This could just be the Mercury being cautious as Plum ramps up her participation since being acquired at the WNBA trade deadline and coming off an injury.
The guard was collided with in the second quarter and stayed down on the court. She left the court under her own power and was out briefly, but was able to return to the game with 2:36 left in the first half. While she finished out the half, Plum did not play in the second half.
This is not only the fourth game that the veteran guard has played with her new team, but also her fourth game back since suffering a lower left leg injury on June 21 that caused her to miss more than a month of action.
Since returning on August 3 against the Chicago Sky, Plum’s minutes have been ramping up. She played 21 minutes on August 3, 26 on August 5 and 28 on August 7.
Sunday represented a step back in her progression. The tightness was likely the cause, but Plum was only able to log 14 minutes in the game. She finished with five points on 2 of 7 shooting with three rebounds and two assists.
Phoenix has now lost three games in a row and four of its last five. The Mercury next play on Tuesday, taking on Plum’s old team in the Los Angeles Sparks.
Plum was acquired for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and guard Monique Akoa Makani, compensation that was debated when the deal was announced.
The veteran guard is still a talented player and will soon turn 32 years old. Plum is only under contract through the remainder of the 2026 season and could leave Phoenix in free agency, calling into question how much the Mercury gave up for her for a potential partial-season rental.
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