RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesOne key stat explains Valkyries' choice not to make Kelsey Plum trade originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The Phoenix Mercury stunned the WNBA by pulling off a blockbuster trade for All-Star guard Kelsey Plum on Saturday -- for what might amount to a 14-game stint in the desert, seeing as Plum is set to hit unrestricted free agency after the season.
The Mercury won the Plum sweepstakes by offering to the Los Angeles Sparks an enticing package of Monique Akoa Makani plus two draft picks -- including a first-round selection that could fall in the lottery of a stacked 2027 draft. The Washington Mystics , the Atlanta Dream , the New York Liberty and the Golden State Valkyries all were linked with Plum, but in the end, Phoenix's offer blew away the others.
MORE : Why Mercury's Kelsey Plum blockbuster is just crazy enough to work
The Valkyries in particular had been regarded as a strong suitor for Plum. San Francisco's proximity to Los Angeles was viewed as a key factor in getting Plum to re-sign long-term with Golden State -- and the Valkyries' offense, last in the league in pace and seventh in efficiency, could have used Plum's shooting and driving capabilities.
However, it is hard to imagine Golden State wanted to break up the league's best defense.
Not only do the Valkyries rank first in defensive rating, but Natalie Nakase's team leads the WNBA in "kills" per 100 possessions -- a metric that might well presage a long playoff run come October.
A “kill” occurs when the defense prevents the offense from scoring on three straight possessions. College programs have tracked kills for well over a decade, so let's do the same for the WNBA. Here are the league's leaders in kills per 100 defensive possessions: pic.twitter.com/9e6iNjuoBT
— Dan Falkenheim (@thefalkon) August 3, 2026 A "kill" is when a defense prevents the opposing offense from scoring on three consecutive possessions.
The Valkyries average 8.15 kills for every 100 possessions, tops in the WNBA ahead of the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx .
Plum is not known as a stellar defender, and though her scoring would have helped Golden State, breaking up such a connected defensive unit by dealing assets to Los Angeles was a gamble that the Valkyries were not comfortable making.
Besides, with Plum set to hit the market in the spring, Golden State can always circle back and try to sign her in 2027 if she can't get a deal done with Phoenix.
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Caitlin Clark and the Fever stay put in latest WNBA power ranking despite Lynx loss
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Washington Mystics make stunning leap to No. 2 in latest WNBA power rankings
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