University of Washington Professional Athletes

The Trade That Backfired

Kelsey Plum came to Phoenix with All-Star billing and championship ambitions. She may be leaving with a question mark hanging over her future — and a trade that's already being called one of the worst in WNBA history.

The UW product played just five games and logged a mere 105 minutes as a Mercury before a lingering leg injury ended her 2026 season. What was supposed to be a 14-game audition turned into a footnote, and now the franchise is left confronting a much bigger problem: Plum is set to become a free agent in the 2026 offseason, meaning Phoenix could lose her without ever seeing a meaningful return on the trade that brought her in.

The injury's reach extended beyond the WNBA season. USA Basketball confirmed that Plum withdrew from the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup roster for health reasons — a significant blow, both for Team USA and for Plum's visibility heading into what could be a pivotal offseason for her career.

With the Mercury already sitting at 14-26 and eliminated from playoff contention, the Plum experiment represents a painful microcosm of Phoenix's broader struggles. The calculus behind acquiring her — adding a proven offensive weapon for a postseason push — collapsed almost immediately. Fans and analysts have been blunt in their assessment, with some calling the deal a franchise-altering misstep if Plum walks in free agency without the Mercury receiving fair value.

The central question — has Plum played her last game in a Mercury uniform? — remains unanswered, and it's one the front office will have to wrestle with all offseason.

Whitcomb Keeps Competing

Not all UW news out of Phoenix was grim. Fellow Husky Sami Whitcomb delivered one of her stronger outings of the season on Sunday, putting up 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal in the Mercury's 101-69 blowout win over the Tempo. She posted a plus-minus of +21, providing a rare bright spot on a roster that has little left to play for down the stretch.

Whitcomb's performance won't move the needle on the franchise's larger concerns, but it's a reminder that UW's WNBA pipeline runs deeper than one marquee name. As Plum's situation dominates the headlines, Whitcomb continues to log minutes and contribute in a Mercury season that has otherwise gone sideways.

The Bigger Picture for UW Alumni

For Husky fans tracking their own, this week is a tale of two narratives. Plum — the program's most decorated WNBA product — faces a crossroads that could define the back half of her career. Whether Phoenix retains her, whether another franchise swoops in, or whether the injury lingers into next season, the coming months will be pivotal. Whitcomb, meanwhile, is doing what veterans do: staying ready and staying productive, even when the wins aren't coming and the calendar is winding down.

Aari McDonald, the third UW alum active in the league, is rostered with the Indiana Fever but did not appear in the research window's notable activity.

For Washington alumni, the WNBA stretch run offers more anxiety than celebration — centered almost entirely on what happens next for Kelsey Plum.

Kelsey Plum finally got her Phoenix homecoming. What she — and the Mercury — do with it next is the real story.

The former Washington Husky made her long-awaited Mercury home debut on Aug. 25 against the Washington Mystics, suiting up at Mortgage Matchup Center in front of Phoenix's home crowd for the first time. But the moment was less coronation than cautious return. Plum has been playing through a calf injury — her availability was a genuine question mark heading into the week — and the performance reflected that measured approach. She managed 10 points, an assist, and a steal in the Aug. 26 matchup, though the Mercury dropped both games in the series, 84–94 and 73–80, extending a brutal stretch of losses that has Phoenix sitting at 13–26 and officially eliminated from playoff contention.

The losses stung, but the bigger conversation circling Plum has nothing to do with the box score.

The Contract Question

Plum's arrival in Phoenix — the marquee offseason signing for a franchise that went to the WNBA Finals just last year — was supposed to signal a new era. Instead, it's raised an uncomfortable question: does she stay? Reports from her home debut suggested genuine enthusiasm; she described the moment as "super excited" and something that had felt like a long time coming. Diana Taurasi, still a gravitational presence around the franchise, has already been spotted sharing a moment with Plum courtside. Plum herself dropped hints about her Mercury future that, per The Sporting News, will dominate Phoenix's offseason planning. An extension feels possible. Nothing is locked in.

A Place in WNBA History

Amid the losing, there was real cause for recognition. Plum joined Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers as the only players in WNBA history to reach a specific statistical milestone — a rare distinction that underscores just how elite a company she belongs to regardless of the team's record. The milestone arrived quietly during a rough week, but it won't be forgotten.

Whitcomb Holds the Line

Fellow Husky Sami Whitcomb is alongside Plum in Phoenix, giving Washington alumni a two-player presence on the Mercury roster. Whitcomb has been steady in a reserve role — she posted 6 points and 5 assists in the Aug. 23 loss to Atlanta, and contributed 3 points Friday against the Mystics. Her playmaking in limited minutes (3 assists in the Aug. 26 game alongside a block and a rebound) reflects a veteran doing her job on a team still searching for cohesion.

The Mercury's season is effectively over in the standings. But for two Huskies, the final stretch is about building something: Plum rehabilitating through injury and laying the groundwork for a potential long-term commitment to Phoenix; Whitcomb carving out her role as a reliable piece. The offseason that follows this week — especially whatever Plum decides — may define where both Huskies land when 2027 tips off.