Kelsey Plum, fresh off a trade to the Phoenix Mercury, just proved a whole lot of skeptics wrong, dropping 20 points in her new team’s 106-101 win over the Chicago Sky on Monday night. This wasn’t just a quiet outing, either; Plum played 21 minutes off the bench and the final triple she drained, battling Kamilla Cardoso into the paint, recovering the ball, and pulling up from the right corner, was the literal game-winner. Talk about an instant impact! Phoenix outscored Chicago by a team-best 12 points during her time on the court, a stat that tells you everything about the energy she brought.
KP and the New Big 3 Showed Up and Showed Out
This was more than just a Plum show, though, even with her hitting 60 percent from the field, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Alyssa Thomas, a true legend in the making, absolutely went off with a triple-double: 19 points, 15 boards, and 12 assists. That’s her 21st career triple-double, extending her WNBA all-time record. And Kahleah Cooper? She dropped a massive 31 points. Seriously, Phoenix’s new “Big 3” of Plum, Thomas, and Cooper just flexed some serious firepower, giving Mercury fans a dazzling look at what could be some truly fun basketball. The confidence and impact KP is injecting into that team is clear as day from game one.
But Here’s the Gut Punch for the Emerald City’s Fellow Basketball Enthusiasts
Alright, deep breath. Because here’s the cold, hard truth that even an incredible debut can’t fix for Phoenix. That win pushed the Mercury to a 12-19 record, leaving them 5.5 games out of the No. 8 seed with only 13 games left in the season. Remember, this is a team that made the WNBA Finals just last year in 2025. The 2026 season? It was supposed to be “title or bust” territory. Alyssa Thomas, at 34 years old, has a championship as the lone void on her resume, and time is ticking. While Plum’s arrival absolutely promises some wildly entertaining basketball and a reason for fans to get hyped, the reality is stark. This season, despite Plum’s brilliance, has been a failure in Phoenix’s “title or bust” follow-up.
So, what’s next? The Mercury gets to play out these remaining 13 games, with Plum and her new squad putting on a show that might look awesome. But will it be enough to make anyone confident that, despite their veteran age, this team can actually contend for a title next year? It’s all about playing spoiler and building chemistry now, because the dream of a championship for this year’s Mercury? That train left the station a while ago.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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