After a trade late Saturday night, Kelsey Plum is member of the Phoenix Mercury. And after a wild couple of days, Plum will be making her debut in a Mercury uniform as the team takes on the Chicago Sky.
In an introductory press conference on Monday, Plum spoke about her excitement to play rejoin Team USA teammates Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas. She also spoke about a message she received from Mercury legend Diana Taurasi, who is a personal idol of Plum's.
"It means everything," she said of hearing from Taurasi, via Dylan Kane of The XI Sports. "She actually texted me today and just said there's no one she'd rather have (on the Mercury), and so I'm just very honored."
Plum was in Portland on Sunday ahead of the the Los Angeles Sparks' game against the Fire, and had said she was fully prepared to play for L.A. despite rumblings that she'd get dealt by the Sparks ahead of Sunday's trade deadline. After the trade went through, Plum flew to Chicago late last night to join her new team on Monday.
One of the larger questions around the Plum trade is whether Phoenix will be able to keep the point guard in the long run. Plum's contract is up at the end of this year, and she reportedly intends to explore free agency this offseason, though she could still return to the Mercury.

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