# Kelsey Plum Is EXACTLY What the Phoenix Mercury Needed | WNBA Power Rankings + Underrated Stars

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-women-s-basketball-daily-podcast-on-the-wnba-909425/kelsey-plum-is-exactly-what-the-phoenix-mercury-needed-wnba-power-rankings-underrated-stars
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-women-s-basketball-daily-podcast-on-the-wnba-909425/kelsey-plum-is-exactly-what-the-phoenix-mercury-needed-wnba-power-rankings-underrated-stars.md
Podcast: [Locked On Women's Basketball – Daily Podcast On The WNBA](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-women-s-basketball-daily-podcast-on-the-wnba-909425)
Published: 2026-08-04T14:25:10+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-womens-basketball/
Audio file: https://pdrl.fm/ab2d09/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/8d31b389-535c-4ce7-b173-5f7016ba17c8/episodes/cae066ae-113e-4468-b676-ef892e71075f/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8d31b389-535c-4ce7-b173-5f7016ba17c8&awEpisodeId=cae066ae-113e-4468-b676-ef892e71075f&feed=6xlU4vnG
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Duration seconds: 1695

## Resource

Kelsey Plum is already proving why she was the missing piece for the Phoenix Mercury. In today's episode, we break down how Plum's scoring, shot creation, and veteran leadership are giving Phoenix a completely different offensive identity following the trade deadline. After a 106-101 win over the Chicago Sky, the Mercury continue to show they have the firepower to compete with anyone in the WNBA. We also recap every game from Monday night's WNBA action, including: Las Vegas Aces dominate the Atlanta Dream behind Jackie Young's historic triple-double. New York Liberty continue rolling as Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu power another impressive win over the Seattle Storm. Phoenix Mercury outlast the Chicago Sky in the highest-scoring game of the night and why Kelsey Plum's impact is becoming more evident every game. Then we reveal our 2026 Underrated Starting Five featuring players who deserve far more recognition for their impact this season, including Jordin Canada, Rae Burrell, Naz Hillmon, Kayla Thornton, and Li Yueru. Plus, we wrap up the show with our latest WNBA Power Rankings and discuss which teams are rising, falling, and positioning themselves as true championship contenders.

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## Transcript

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