Can Golden State Valkyries sign Kelsey Plum in WNBA free agency?

Will Kelsey Plum leave the Las Vegas Aces in WNBA free agency? If so, will the Golden State Valkyries emerge as a landing destination for the star guard? Although Plum is set to be an unrestricted free agent, the path to the Valkyries comes with some obstacles. Golden State can technically add Plum but doing so will prove to be a challenge.

The Valkyries already added someone who was previously associated with the Aces, hiring former Las Vegas assistant coach Natalie Nakase. Golden State is currently preparing for the expansion draft but there are more ways to add players than only the draft.

So how can the Valkyries add Plum?

Valkyries' path to adding Kelsey Plum

For clarity, the Valkyries and Plum may not even have mutual interest. It isn't as if rumors are swirling that are linking them to one another. However, mutual interest could emerge down the road.

Plum may welcome the opportunity to be the best player on a team after playing alongside three-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson. Meanwhile, the Valkyries would surely love to build their roster around the three-time All-Star.

Signing Plum once free agency begins will not be a simple task, though. The Aces will not want to lose Plum in free agency for nothing in return. They may opt to negotiate a deal before the Valkyries' expansion draft. With stars such as A'ja Wilson already signed to contracts, the Aces could decide to core Plum.

For those who may not be aware, players can be designated as core players three times in their careers. Teams can designate one player as a core player per free agency period. It protects teams from consistently losing stars in free agency.

If Kelsey Plum wants to leave the Aces, something that has not been confirmed, then Las Vegas could still core her and then trade her. The Aces and Valkyries could agree to a Plum-led trade.

Will Plum receive the core designation?

In most circumstances, Plum would surely receive the core designation. However, the core means that she would receive the super-max salary for one year, and the Aces already have a number of guaranteed contracts to consider. As a result, there is an outside chance that Plum will not receive the core designation.

Of course, if she doesn't then she will be able to sign with any team. This means the Valkyries, or any other WNBA franchise, could pursue Plum in free agency.

In all reality, Golden State's potential Plum pursuit will be significantly impacted by the Aces' offseason decisions. There is an opportunity for Kelsey Plum to end up with the Valkyries in 2025, but there are still plenty of questions to answer.