WNBA star Kelsey Plum re-signs with Sparks on special one-year contract
WNBA star Kelsey Plum re-signs with Sparks on special one-year contract
Meghan L. Hall, USA TODAYSun, April 12, 2026 at 4:49 PM UTC
0
WNBA star Kelsey Plum is staying in Los Angeles.
On Sunday, ESPN reported the two-time WNBA champion and four-time All-Star is re-signing with the Los Angeles Sparks. After being traded to Los Angeles ahead of the 2025 season, Plum averaged 19.5 points, 5.7 assists and 1.2 steals her first year in a Sparks uniform.
Plum's new contract is a one-year deal and reportedly worth $999,999. The franchise gave Plum a core designation on April 7, clearing a pathway for her to receive a supermax deal worth $1.4 million. However, the veteran guard reportedly took a smaller deal to give Los Angeles more flexibility to continue building a title-contending roster.
Plum's signing comes after an eventful week for the Sparks. On Sunday, the franchise also traded forward Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky in exchange for veteran guard Ariel Atkins. Jackson spent two seasons with Los Angeles after she was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick during the 2024 WNBA Draft. Atkins joins Los Angeles after seven seasons with the Washington Mystics and one with Sky.
Advertisement
1 / 0Our WNBA mock draft could be full of future stars
With the Women's Final Four complete, all eyes turn towards the 2026 WNBA Draft. The WNBA draft takes place Monday, April 13, in New York, and this year's event has a different feel. Unlike the last two drafts, where Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were consensus No. 1 overall picks, this year's top spot is up for grabs. After an exciting March Madness, it's time to see who helped their stock and who fell down the draft board. Is Awa Fam still at the top? Is Azzi Fudd a top-five draft pick? Who vaulted into the first round? Here's USA TODAY's latest 2026 WNBA mock draft: 1. Dallas Wings: Lauren Betts, C, UCLA - After a stellar NCAA Tournament run, Betts has done enough to earn consideration for the No. 1 overall pick. While the Bruins center will need to work on shooting more baskets in the mid-range and later from deep, she can be inserted into Dallas's lineup when the season starts on May 8. Her length and size make her an immediate threat in the post, along with her passing abilities and rebounding prowess.
“Ariel is a proven winner and one of the most respected two-way guards in this league,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said about acquiring Atkins. “She’s a champion, an elite defender and someone who understands what it takes to win in big moments. Her professionalism, competitiveness and versatility make her a perfect fit for our franchise and a key piece in our pursuit of a championship.”
On April 11, forward Dearica Hamby re-signed with the team on a three-year deal for close to $3.5 million, ESPN reported. Hamby averaged 18.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals last season in LA, where she has spent the past three years. The team also signed guard Erica Wheeler, who will come back to the Sparks, where she played in 2021.
Rounding out the Sparks' signings this week is 10-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike, who returns to the Sparks after two seasons in Seattle. Ogwumike originally joined the team in 2012, playing 12 seasons and winning a championship in 2016. She then moved on to the Storm in 2024 before returning to the franchise that drafted her.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Kelsey Plum re-signed with Sparks on a lower deal to help build roster
Source: “AOL Sports”
