2x WNBA Champion Wants Exit Because of Teammate A’ja Wilson Hints National Reporter

For those who don’t know, each WNBA franchise has the option to assign a “core” designation to one player during free agency, granting the team exclusive rights to that player, who would otherwise enter the open market. Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), a player receiving the core designation is automatically extended a one-year supermax contract offer, which for the 2025 season is valued at around $249,000.

The Aces recently assigned the core designation to the All-Star guard, Kelsey Plum, a two-time WNBA champion. However, she might still be on the move. While this sounds intriguing to a neutral fan, it’s not so appealing to a Las Vegas Aces fan.

While the Aces do hold the negotiating rights of Plum, there’s no guarantee of her staying put. The star guard averaged 17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season which is a slight dip from the previous season. While her performances might have dipped a little last season, there’s no denying that Plum is still one of the best players in the league.

In the latest episode of ‘The Ringer WNBA Show’, host Seerat Sohi dives into the hot topic of Plum’s future with special guest Tyler DeLuca. The duo speculate on a blockbuster move, predicting the league’s newest team, the Golden State Valkyries, to make a bold play for the two-time champion.

Speaking in the podcast, Serrat talks about the ambition of the Valkyries, she says,“Overall, it feels like this team wants to compete right away, you saw the players that they drafted and I think you’re probably gonna see in their free agency strategy as well.” She proceeds to talk about how the Golden State should target Plum if they want to compete for the title right from the go, “Kelsey Plum by the way, cored by the Aces, seems like she’s probably going to be on the move and she has a relationship with Natalie Nakase(head coach of the Golden State Valkyries) who is also a assistant coach on Vegas, those two , they’re both just dawgs.” 

Tyler DeLuca agrees with Serrat and believes Plum at Golden State would make a lot of sense, he says,“They would make perfect sense for me, (Plum teaming up with the Golden State) it’s a new place with familiar faces, it’s kind of a good mix,like if Kelsey Plum is going to the franchise cornerstone for at least beginning couple of years, there’s worse places for Kelsey to take that next step.” He further reiterates that A’Ja Wilson will always be the franchise player for the Vegas franchise, “Obviously when you have A’ja Wilson on your team, no matter how good Kelsey Plum is , it’s A’ja Wilson’s team.” He continues ,“If Kelsey Plum is on the move, Golden State makes a lot of sense for several different reasons.” 

As analysts and reporters increasingly speculate that Kelsey Plum might leave the Las Vegas Aces to join the Golden State Valkyries, the big question emerges. What will the Golden State Warriors need to offer the Las Vegas Aces to make this deal happen? Let’s take a look!

What can the Golden State offer to make the Kelsey Plum trade happen?

With the Aces holding Plum’s negotiation rights this season, they’re in a power position when it comes to any potential deal. So what might they get in return for the 3x All-star?

ESPN’s WNBA reporter Kevin Pelton believes the Golden State Valkyries could be gearing up to make an offer so irresistible, it would be nearly impossible for the Aces to turn down. With the Valkyries looking to make an immediate splash in their inaugural season, their potential package for Plum could be the game-changer that shifts the entire landscape of the league.

The Valkyries’ potential package could include the coveted fifth pick in the upcoming WNBA draft and is shaping up to be an offer the Aces simply can’t afford to pass up. The negotiations for the WNBA contracts are set to officially begin on January 21. However, players can’t sign new deals until February 1. That gives both teams a window of time to fine-tune their offers and finalize a deal that could shake the entire world.

While the focus is on Kelsey Plum’s potential move, Wilson remains the heart and soul of the Las Vegas Aces. If Plum does leave, Wilson will continue to be the cornerstone of the franchise. Any trade involving Plum will undoubtedly affect the team’s dynamic, but A’ja’s ability to carry the franchise forward ensures that the Aces will remain a force to be reckoned with.