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Basketball
Can Kelsey Plum Push the Mercury Into Contention?
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show›
2 days ago1:02:45
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Basketball
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The WNBA trade deadline has come and gone, and while the league didn’t see a flood of moves, one blockbuster trade changed the conversation. Zena and Sabreena break down the Phoenix Mercury’s acquisition of Kelsey Plum from the Los Angeles Sparks and discuss what this move means for Phoenix’s playoff hopes and the race for the postseason.
Before diving into the trade deadline fallout, the duo opens the show with the ongoing controversy surrounding Sophie Cunningham’s comments on transgender girls in youth sports, which sparked rallies and counter-rallies WNBA games. Sabreena breaks down what happened at those rallies, the conversations happening around the league, and Cheryl Reeve’s call for leadership, accountability, and inclusivity within the WNBA.
To close out the episode, we look ahead to the future of All-Star Weekend and discuss which cities could be strong contenders to host the 2027 WNBA All-Star Game.
REFERENCES:
Cheryl Reeve: WNBA must be ‘safe space for everyone,’ regardless of viewpoint by Devon Henderson
WNBA power rankings: Olivia Miles has Minnesota Lynx soaring by Sabreena Merchant
Dallas Wings to play home games at American Airlines Center in 2027 by Sabreena Merchant
Connecticut Sun trade Aneesah Morrow to Toronto Tempo by Annie Coastabile
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"Can Kelsey Plum Push the Mercury Into Contention?" is an episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Runtime 1 hr 2 min. Published August 4, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
