Kelsey Plum free agency news could shake up WNBA landscape

Kelsey Plum has been cored by the Las Vegas Aces, meaning that she’ll be offered a one-year supermax contract worth $249,244. The core designation also takes away her ability to sign with other WNBA teams.

If Plum wants out of Las Vegas, the fact that she’s been cored ensures that the Aces will at least get something in return for her. If she agrees to stay, she’ll sign that contract and run it back with an Aces squad headlined by longtime teammates A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray.

Teams can use the core designation to gain exclusive negotiation rights with a player, even unrestricted free agents — but players can only be cored twice throughout their careers. layers can either sign that one-year deal with their existing team or sign it under the pretense of a trade request (so the team signing them at least gets something in return rather than watching one of their top free agents walk). Teams can only use one core designation per season.

Plum, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, has been with the Aces her entire career and was a key part of two championship teams. Last season, Plum averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists, shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.8% from three. She’s been an All-Star three times in her 8-year career.

Plum hasn’t spoken publicly about where she wants to end up, but she’s been hypothetically linked to the Golden State Valkyries for a slew of reasons. Plum is California-raised, and her former assistant coach, Natalie Nakase, is now coaching the Valkyries. On the Valkyries, Plum could also be the team’s primary scoring option, whereas, on the Aces, three-time MVP A’ja Wilson is the team’s primary offensive option.

If Kelsey Mitchell leaves the Indiana Fever, they could also be on the hunt for a high-scoring shooting guard. Plum doesn’t have the exact same skillset as Mitchell, but she’s a consistent three-point shooter who could play alongside Caitlin Clark.

Additionally, given the fact that Jewell Loyd reportedly requested a trade from the Seattle Storm, the Storm could also be on the hunt for a prolific scorer to replace her.

At this point, the most likely outcome still appears to be that Plum will stay with the franchise she’s had so much success with — but, she didn’t sign an extension with the Aces and could look to shake up her career despite the stability that Las Vegas offers.

Plum isn’t the Aces’ only free agent this winter, but she’s their most impactful. Alysha Clark, Tiffany Hayes, and Sydney Colson are also all unrestricted free agents. Clark was the Sixth Player of the Year in 2023, and Hayes won that same award in 2024, averaging 9.5 points on 50% shooting off the bench. Clark averaged 6 points and 2.6 rebounds off the bench last season.