PHOENIX — After a five-game road trip, the Phoenix Mercury are finally back home, but they’ll start their next homestand without guard Kelsey Plum.
NEWS: Kelsey Plum has been ruled OUT for Sunday’s game vs. Portland. pic.twitter.com/5uaxcneL3u
— PHNX Mercury (@PHNX_Mercury) August 14, 2026
Head coach Nate Tibbetts told reporters Friday that the All-Star has been ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Portland Fire, marking her second missed game since arriving in Phoenix. Plum also missed the Aug. 11 game against her former team, the Los Angeles Sparks, after being ruled out with a lower left leg injury.
Before joining the Mercury, Plum had been dealing with an injury to that same leg, and it appears there may have been an aggravation since. In a game against the Washington Mystics on Aug. 9, she was taken out due to injury and didn’t play the second half.
Aug 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum (0) reacts to an injury with forward-guard DeWanna Bonner (24) and forward Valeriane Ayayi (11) during the first half at CareFirst Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Phoenix acquired Plum in a trade with the Sparks on Aug. 1, sending Monique Akoa Makani and two high draft picks to Los Angeles. Her impact was immediately felt when she arrived in Phoenix, scoring 20 points in her debut and hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer against the Chicago Sky on Aug. 3.
Through four games, Plum has averaged 17.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 53.5% from the field.
Those numbers reflect the player Phoenix traded for, but they also show why her absence is difficult to replace, especially with another important matchup ahead.
Aug 7, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Leila Lacan (47) defends against Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum (0) in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Mercury are still playing for themselves and want to end the season better than they started. Having a healthy team is a start, but injuries, especially to a player who made her presence felt so quickly after arriving in the Valley, are another hard pill to swallow this season.
The X-Factor had reacted excitedly to the new addition, ready to see Plum make her Phoenix debut. That debut would have coincided with Mercury legend Diana Taurasi’s Ring of Honor ceremony, creating another connection between two players whose careers have crossed in different ways.
Aug 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum enters the court before the game against the LA Sparks at the Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Instead, Phoenix and its fan base will have to wait a little longer to see Plum take the court at Mortgage Matchup Center.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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