The Las Vegas Aces recently traded Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks as part of a three-team deal. Although Plum is ready for a fresh start, she took the time to send a heartwarming message to the city of Las Vegas following the trade. The 30-year-old guard shared the message in a post on her Instagram Friday.
"A move from San Antonio. Bill Laimbeer. Marc Davis. Becky Hammon. Hall of Fame Teammates. Championships. All stars. Gold medals. It’s been an incredible journey to be a part of the Aces organization, and Vegas will always hold a special place in my heart," Plum wrote.
Plum was with the organization during its final season in San Antonio. In 2018, the team relocated to Las Vegas and ultimately became the Aces. Plum has spent her entire career with the organization up to this point, spending most of her time in the city of Las Vegas.
Although that is now going to change, she is thankful for her time with the Aces.
"Vegas is much more than the strip," Plum continued. "It is a community of incredible people that have a real zest for life, and it is a true basketball town. The support and loyalty the city has for the Aces is incredible, and I’m so grateful that I got the chance to experience that love.
"The friendships I formed here, I’ll hold onto forever. I was blessed to play for and learn from star coaches, alongside the best possible teammates. It was a blessing and so very special to be a part of a team that was committed to raising the bar for both the WNBA and women’s sports in general."
Plum, alongside A'ja Wilson, led the Aces to multiple championships. Wilson emerged as a consistent MVP candidate while Plum turned herself into an All-Star, earning the honor on three separate occasions while in Las Vegas.
Kelsey Plum will leave the organization with career averages of 14.3 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. Her best season came in 2022, when she averaged career-highs in points (20.2) and assists (5.1) per game. Plum finished fifth in WNBA MVP voting during the '22 campaign as a result of her impressive performance.
Plum is ready for the next chapter of her career. Still, she will never forget her time in Las Vegas.
"Now this chapter closes and our time together comes to an end, but I’ll never forget my time in Vegas, nor the profound impact it’s had on my life. I’ve got nothing but love for the organization, the city, the community and everyone in it."