Kelsey Plum has already missed Phoenix’s last two games and she remained on the injury report heading into Saturday’s contest against Atlanta Dream.

Updated on: Aug 23, 2026, 08:01:15 IST

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The Phoenix Mercury are hosting the Atlanta Dream on Saturday as they look to respond after suffering a defeat to the Portland Fire earlier this week.

However, the Mercury will be without one of their key players, as Kelsey Plum has been ruled out and will not be part of the starting lineup for the matchup.

Why isn't Kelsey Plum playing tonight?

Plum has already missed Phoenix’s last two games after sustaining a left lower-leg injury during the team’s meeting with the Washington Mystics.

She remained on the injury report heading into Saturday’s contest against Atlanta, with the injury keeping her sidelined once again.

Plum has appeared in just four games for the Mercury since joining the team via trade, making her latest absence particularly significant as Phoenix attempts to make a late push for the playoffs.

Without their new star guard, the Mercury’s path becomes considerably more difficult, especially with little room for error in the standings.

Plum’s strong season amid injuries

Staying healthy has been a challenge for Plum throughout the season, but her performances when available have been among the strongest of her career. She is currently averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game.

Phoenix will be eager to have Plum back on the floor as soon as possible as the team looks to close the regular season on a strong note.

Even if the Mercury ultimately fall short of the postseason, establishing chemistry between Plum, Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper could prove valuable moving forward.

Plum’s free agency looms large

Plum is set to enter free agency after the season, making her future with Phoenix another important storyline.

The Mercury clearly viewed her as a long-term piece when they acquired her, but they will still need to convince the veteran guard to remain with the franchise once she has the opportunity to explore her options.

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