The Phoenix Mercury made the WNBA Finals last season after a stunning playoff run. Now, they’re bringing in one of the W’s best to try and do it again. Things are heating up in the Valley!
Today’s Lineup
☀️ Plum’s New Place
L.A. deals Kelsey Plum to Phoenix.
💪 Back in Town
The Warriors and Mavs both sign familiar faces.
⏪ Record Retrospective
Looking back on the longest playoff win streak ever.
🎉 Happy birthday Kon Knueppel, Kendrick Nunn, and Ricky Council IV! 🎉
Around the Association
Sparks deal five-time All-Star Plum to Mercury at deadline
One of the WNBA’s most prominent players has a new home.
Over the weekend, the Phoenix Mercury made the splash of the WNBA trade deadline, sending a sizable package to L.A. in exchange for star guard Kelsey Plum. Let’s break down the deal.
Mercury receive: Kelsey Plum
Sparks receive: Monique Akoa Makani, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick
Why Phoenix said yes: Plum, who averaged a league-second-best 23.9 points per game earlier this season before going down with a leg injury, is one of the WNBA’s bona fide star scorers. The 2017 #1 pick became just the second top pick in league history to be dealt midseason, and now joins an 11-19 Phoenix team that needs a late surge to sneak into the playoffs. Plum is also set to hit Free Agency at year’s end and reportedly intends to go through the full process, though a return to Phoenix is not out of the question.
Why L.A. said yes: The Sparks traded for Plum during the 2025 offseason in an attempt to supercharge their rebuild, but the results have been mixed. L.A. has gone 31-40 between this campaign and last, and with Plum’s contract expiring, recouping assets seems like a strong play. Akoa Makani, who shot 39.8% from three in 2025, could factor into the team’s long-term plans, while the upcoming first-rounder could prove fruitful in a promising draft.
🏀 🏀 🏀
Payton II returns to Warriors, Mavs extend Marshall
The main fireworks of the NBA offseason have come and gone, but there are still a few key moves coming down the pike. Let’s break down two recent reunions and one new town for a former first-rounder.
Gary Payton II, a key piece of the Warriors’ 2022 championship run, is returning to Golden State on a one-year, $3.9 million deal. 2026-2027 will mark Payton’s seventh year in the Bay, where he’s consistently brought hard-nosed perimeter defense and efficient shooting (58.3% from the field in 2026). The son of “The Glove” is the definition of a Warrior!
Naji Marshall inked a three-year, fully guaranteed $52.2 million extension with the Mavericks, securing a crucial piece of Dallas’s reworked core. The versatile 6-foot-6 forward provides scoring, length, and defense for new head coach Dusty Maye, and at 28, he has plenty of productive seasons left as Cooper Flagg begins his ascension. Plus, he just might have the best floater in the league.
Jeremy Sochan is signing a one-year deal with the Trailblazers, marking the end of the former lottery pick’s time in New York. After playing sparingly in the Knicks’ title run after being dealt to the Big Apple at last year’s deadline, Sochan — who’s averaged roughly 10 PPG and 5 RPG for his career — will get another chance to prove himself on a Portland team looking to climb next season.
🧠 Daily Trivia 🧠
Record Retrospective
The Knicks went on a historic tear this past postseason, rattling off 13 straight wins en route to the franchise’s first ring in over half a century. But they came just short of breaking the all-time record for the longest playoff win streak— that honor belongs to a group that many call the greatest of all time: the 2017 Golden State Warriors.
The Build-Up
In today’s world of second aprons and supermaxes, it’s difficult to imagine a 73-9 team adding a still-in-his-prime former MVP via Free Agency.
But that’s exactly what happened in the 2016 offseason, when Kevin Durant embarked on his famous “next chapter,” joining a Warriors team fresh off the wins record and a stunning 3-1 Finals collapse.
The Regular Season
The Dubs immediately fielded hype as the most talented roster ever assembled, and throughout the regular season, they looked the part. Though Golden State won a mere 67 games, they finished first in offensive rating and second in defensive rating, with KD, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green each earning All-Star nods.
The Playoffs
But in the playoffs, the Warriors became a different beast. A first round matchup with the Trailblazers went quickly — 4-0 — as did a second round tilt with the Jazz. In Game 1 of the WCF, the Dubs faced their first true test, trailing the Spurs by as many as 25 PTS But after Kawhi Leonard went down, the Warriors stormed back, ultimately claiming the series in a sweep.
In the Finals, the Warriors faced a familiar foe: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had lost just once in their run through the East. But the Cavs proved no match for the Golden State buzzsaw, with Durant’s shot over James in Game 3 the enduring image of a 4-1 domination. Durant’s 35 PPG earned him MVP honors, while the Warriors as a team broke the record for playoff win percentage. They also set a new mark for point differential (+230), but that figure was recently surpassed by the Knicks’ +283.
While the Warriors were heralded as giants from season’s start, the latest playoff killers came out of nowhere to make history. In the NBA, greatness can come from anywhere.
Are the 2017 Warriors the greatest team of all time?
Three in the Key
🤝 Kessler x Sexton
The new Lakers teammates are reprising their Utah connection!
👀 Going for Gold
Who could join Team USA in LA 2028?
🔥 Brotherly Runs
Philly is gonna be movin’ on the fastbreak next season.
What We’re Enjoying
Need some high-flying, web-slinging fun in your summer? Look no further than Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the latest installment in the story of everyone’s favorite neighborhood hero. Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Sadie Sink shine as Peter Parker tries to reconcile his human and superhuman identities— all while protecting New York City from a mysterious, shapeshifting threat. Check out the trailer below! ⤵️
Signing Off
And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, remember to maintain patience through the ebbs and flows of life. Even the smallest changes take time, and just because you can’t see the end of the road doesn’t mean you aren’t moving forward. See you soon!
Walker Carnathan
