During the CBA discussions, multiple voices supported a pay raise for the players. The final CBA draft showed a fourfold increase in salary and even raised the supermax contract value to $1.4 million. Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell earned the first supermax contract. For the Los Angeles Sparks, the only candidate eligible for a supermax contract was Kelsey Plum, and the franchise also coveted her, showing their intent to keep the 31-year-old star as their top player.
But now that the dotted line is signed, the actual contract value is considerably low, and the reports showed that the player chose to take the cut.
Kelsey Plum Takes Pay Cut For Rebuilding At Los Angeles Sparks
As a member of the WNBPA, the Sparks’ guard was one of the aggressive individuals criticizing the league’s pay and had been vocal about the different offers from the league, too. But when the player had the opportunity to earn the highest pay, she chose to take the cut in support of the franchise’s plan to build a championship roster.
Four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time champion is signing a one-year, $999,999 deal to return to the, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania. This sacrifice directly enabled a series of blockbuster moves designed to end the league’s longest active postseason drought.
Four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time champion Kelsey Plum is signing a one-year, $999,999 deal to return to the Los Angeles Sparks, per ESPN sources. Plum was in line for the $1.4 million supermax but opted to sign at discounted rate to give the Sparks financial flexibility to… pic.twitter.com/0JbzEqrcRc
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 12, 2026
Playing a key role in the Sparks’ quest for the postseason, the 5-foot-8 guard averaged 19.5 points and 5.7 assists per game last season with the Sparks. She was a key piece of the Aces’ core that won consecutive championships in 2022 and 2023.
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She gave her reason for leaving the Aces’ franchise and showed trust in the Sparks’ project, and now, with the pay cut, the 31-year-old once again showed her belief in the Sparks.
Los Angeles Sparks Looking To Build Around Kelsey Plum
Caitlin Clark holds the NCAA record for most points, and she broke Plum’s record to reach the milestone. A star scorer from her college days, the Washington guard remained one of the top players in the league, too. Now, around her, the Los Angeles Sparks are aggressively pivoting toward a “win-now” mentality.
The most significant of these recent acquisitions is the return of legendary forward Nneka Ogwumike, who rejoins the franchise after a two-year stint in Seattle to provide veteran leadership alongside Plum.
Nneka Ogwumike to sign with the Sparks, per @chiney. pic.twitter.com/NAFuuPCai0
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) April 10, 2026
To further sharpen their perimeter presence, the Sparks orchestrated a major trade to acquire Ariel Atkins from Chicago, sending away young prospect Rickea Jackson to land the proven two-way guard. Additionally, the team secured its interior core by re-signing consistent All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to a lucrative three-year extension. By pairing these established champions with defensive standout Cameron Brink, the Sparks have rapidly constructed a high-caliber roster built for immediate championship contention.