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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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Plum didn’t hint much at her feelings either way, saying that she lives in the moment.
“As far as long-term goes, I don’t want to sound cliché, but I’m where my feet are. Last night I was in Portland, and now it’s here. But that’s why I’m a professional. I’m paid to play basketball at the highest level, and that’s what I’m going to do tonight,” Plum said, via multiple reporters.
In Monday’s press conference, Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren expressed his desire to get a long-term deal with Plum, though he also stayed quiet on any potential talks.
“I’ll keep all my discussions with Kelsey private,” U’Ren said, via multiple reporters. “We hope that she values her time with us here. We hope she’s here for a long time.”
Head coach Nate Tibbetts echoed a similar sentiment as U’Ren, saying he wants to make Phoenix a team where Plum will want to stay.
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“This isn’t just a 14 or 15 game rental in our mind. This is something that we want to build upon,” Tibbetts said, via Kane.
Plum, who has been out since June 21 with a lower leg injury, said in the press conference that she’s on a minutes restriction, and will only play a maximum of 20 minutes in the game.
She’ll also be wearing No. 0, as her usual No. 10 jersey was taken by Mercury guard Lexi Held. Plum told reporters that her family weighed in on which number to take via the family group chat.
