Plum's Impactful Mercury Debut
Kelsey Plum's 20 Points, Game-Sealing Three Lead Mercury to Debut Win
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Key Points
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Alyssa Thomas posted 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, marking her 27th career triple-double for Phoenix.
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Kahleah Copper finished with 31 points, 20 of which came in the second half to help Chicago stay in reach late.
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Diana Taurasi previously had 22 points in her Mercury debut, with Plum’s 20 marking the highest-scoring guard debut for Phoenix since Taurasi.
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Kelsey Plum contributed 4 rebounds in 21 minutes in her Mercury debut, adding a versatile two-way element to her scoring.
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Plum’s first Mercury bucket came early, a corner 3 about two minutes into the game, signaling an immediate impact.
Kelsey Plum scored 20 points off the bench in her Phoenix Mercury debut, drilling a go-ahead 3-pointer with 53.2 seconds left to seal a 106-101 win over the Chicago Sky. The performance made her the highest-scoring Mercury guard debut since Diana Taurasi, according to Essentially Sports.
Plum came to Phoenix in a trade deadline deal that sent Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Sparks, per SI. She returned from a six-week leg injury with limited practice time — and still looked like the missing piece Phoenix needed.
Plum's Go-Ahead Three Sealed Phoenix's Late Win
Phoenix led by just one point in the final minute when Plum knocked down a corner 3 to push the lead to four. DeWanna Bonner then blocked a Vandersloot shot and hit two free throws to ice the game. Kahleah Copper added a steal in the final seconds to close it out, per SLAM.
Copper did everything she could to keep Chicago in it. She finished with 31 points, 20 of which came in the second half. But Phoenix's depth was too much down the stretch.
Plum Made Franchise History Behind Diana Taurasi
Plum's 20-point debut is the second-highest scoring guard debut in Mercury history. Taurasi scored 22 in her own debut. Plum also added four assists and four rebounds in just 21 minutes, according to Essentially Sports.
Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts called it a "hell of a first performance," per Essentially Sports. Plum's first Mercury bucket came about two minutes in — a corner 3 — signaling she was ready to contribute right away despite the rust of a long injury absence.
Alyssa Thomas Piled Up a 27th Career Triple-Double
While Plum grabbed headlines, Alyssa Thomas quietly put together a dominant all-around game. She finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists — her 27th career triple-double for Phoenix, per Head Top Topics.
Thomas's playmaking kept the offense moving even when Plum was on the bench. Her ability to find open shooters and clean up the glass gave Phoenix a clear advantage in the fourth quarter when the game was still in doubt.
Phoenix's Backcourt Reshaping a Western Conference Race
The trade is seen as a bold move to chase a playoff spot in a crowded Western Conference. Plum is a five-time WNBA All-Star and one of the league's best scorers. Coach Tibbetts has said the plan is to slowly build her role, per SI.
Phoenix sent away a future first-round pick to land Plum, showing just how seriously the team is taking its playoff push. If her debut is any sign, the price may prove worth it, according to SLAM.
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