Five players to watch ahead of Aug. 2 WNBA trade deadline - ESPN

With the WNBA trade deadline looming at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, some important moves might be made in the next few days. Teams vying for the playoffs must assess their needs, what can be gained by filling them and what could be lost with what they give up in return. Teams further down the standings have to gauge whether they can truly improve their futures by making a deal now.

There are no easy or guaranteed answers. It's also worth noting that a significant number of players are on one-year deals after the new collective bargaining agreement was reached in March, which could play into trade scenarios, too. Plus, teams must consider the depth of upcoming drafts when it comes to trading picks.

Here are five players we're watching closely ahead of the trade deadline.

Why she might be on the move: Plum was traded to the Sparks in a three-team deal in February 2025 after winning two titles with the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and 2023. She averaged 19.5 points and 5.7 assists last year for the Sparks, who missed the playoffs. This season, she was off to a great start, averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists through 12 games.

But she has not played since June 21 because of a lower left leg injury. The Sparks are 10-17 and could miss the playoffs for the sixth year in a row. They parted with general manager Raegan Pebley on July 12 and might be looking more toward the future than the rest of this season.

Plum is one of the league's elite scorers and looked in great shape before the injury. Depending on how soon she returns, she could help a team through the stretch run of the regular season and the playoffs. She turns 32 in late August and is currently on a one-year deal for $999,999. A team trading for her would want to be sure of two