ESPN predicts major Kelsey Plum move

Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum is one of the biggest names in the WNBA to watch in free agency.

True enough, the Aces did assign a designated core sticker to Plum, but it is not guaranteed that she will stay with the team.

A core designation is equivalent to the NFL’s franchise player tag. The core designation tag means the player cannot sign with any other franchise and can only negotiate a contract with the team that cored her.

In return, the player gets a one-year deal on the maximum based salary available to her.

In the curious case of Plum, she will receive a fully guaranteed one-year supermax contract worth $249,244.

Aside from that, the Aces can trade her if Plum wants to leave.

By giving Plum the designator core qualifying offer, the Aces still get something in return instead of losing her for nothing in unrestricted free agency.

ESPN WNBA reporter Kevin Pelton believes Plum is on her way out of Las Vegas.

In a Jan. 10 article discussing overall WNBA free agency, Pelton’s prediction is the newest expansion franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, could make a move for the three-time all-star.

“The Valkyries trade a package including the No. 5 pick to land Plum as the face of the franchise – reuniting her with former Aces assistant coach Nakase, now Golden State’s head coach,” Pelton wrote,

At 30, Kelsey Plum has won two WNBA championships with the Aces; her 2024 stats were down slightly from the previous two seasons.

The WNBA negotiations window starts Tuesday; however, players cannot sign before Feb. 1.