Phoenix Mercury's Kelsey Plum Sidelined Against Former Team Los Angeles Sparks

What Happened

Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum has been ruled out of the team's upcoming game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. The decision comes as a result of a lower left leg injury. This will be the first time Plum faces her former team, the Sparks, since being traded to the Mercury.

Plum sustained the injury during Sunday's game against the Washington Mystics. She left the game after playing 14 minutes, with the team reporting left calf tightness. This setback follows a previous absence due to a lower left leg injury that had kept her sidelined from June 21 until her Mercury debut on August 3.

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts stated the team's decision to remove Plum from Sunday's game was precautionary. "We wanted to be safe," Tibbetts said. "We'll just see in the next couple days how it looks."

The game against the Mystics was Plum's fourth appearance for the Mercury since her acquisition on August 1. She is recognized as having one of the best seasons of her 10-year career and was considered a significant acquisition at the trade deadline. Plum is averaging 22.3 points per game this season and had scored 20, 19, and 25 points in her recent games for Phoenix prior to the injury.

Key Facts

• Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum is out for Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
• Plum is sidelined with a lower left leg injury.
• She suffered the injury during Sunday's game against the Washington Mystics, exiting with left calf tightness after 14 minutes.
• Plum had previously been out from June 21 due to a lower left leg injury and returned on August 3.
• The game against the Sparks is Plum's first missed opportunity to play her former team since being traded to the Mercury on August 1.
• Plum is averaging 22.3 points per game this season.