Breaking down both of the WNBA’s trade deadline deals and handing out flowers

The GIST: Twelve of the WNBA’s 16 teams stood pat at yesterday’s trade deadline, so let’s dissect the two deals that did go through before giving flowers to an undrafted rookie who’s making it rain.

🪐 LA Sparks trade All-Star Kelsey Plum to Phoenix Mercury: Saturday’s trade marked just the fourth time in WNBA history an All-Star’s been dealt midseason, an expected move given the Sparks’ dubious playoff hopes and soon-to-be free agent Plum’s anticipated exit at season’s end. That said, few predicted the five-time All-Star would land in the desert.

• The 11-19 Mercury are six games out of the playoffs with 14 games left…the same position as LA. This trade’s a gamble for Phoenix: There’s zero guarantee the 31-year-old re-signs this offseason, though a playoff push courtesy of Plum’s playmaking prowess could help.

👟 Toronto Tempo acquire Aneesah Morrow from Connecticut Sun: Another team trying to keep pace in an intriguing playoff race is the injury-riddled Tempo — the third-worst rebounding team in the league. Expect Morrow, the W’s most efficient rebounder, to make an immediate impact.

💐 Undrafted Chicago Sky rookie Sydney Taylor shines: In a season full of standout rookie campaigns, Taylor’s a name to know. She’s the Sky’s leading scorer, breaking records left and right, and shooting the lights out (see: Saturday’s dramatic game-winning three, part of a 29-point outing). Catch her in action vs. Plum’s Mercury tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Two birds, one stone basketball.