Despite being eligible for a $1.4 million supermax deal, Kelsey Plum signed a one-year contract worth just under $1 million.

Just a couple of hours ago, Kelsey Plum took to X and playfully shared a photo with a man holding a single dollar bill. She captioned it, "I guess I found that extra dollar," joking about her contract being just one dollar short of a million.

ESPN W later reshared the playful moment on their official X account.

For those who missed it, the 31-year-old veteran guard agreed to a $999,999 deal with the Los Angeles Sparks, which is less than what she could have earned under both a max and supermax contract.

Basketball insider Shams Charania explained that she chose a lower salary to help the Sparks build a stronger, more competitive roster for the upcoming season.

Even though she’s earning less than her value, this deal is still a big jump from her 2025 contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she made just over $200,000, and it shows her CBA stance wasn’t about personal gain.

The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 19.5 points per game and played a key role in the Sparks’ offense, and despite the team winning just 21 of 44 games, Plum still believes in the franchise and is helping them build a more competitive team.

But beyond the viral moment, Plum’s sacrifice plays a key role in the Sparks’ offseason moves.

Despite Plum's Sacrifice, Sparks Miss Key Targets

Now that the Los Angeles Sparks have re-signed Kelsey Plum for another year, they remain strong at guard and primary ball-handler, while her pay cut gives the team added flexibility to bring in win-now pieces.

The Sparks have already made moves, including trading for Ariel Atkins from the Chicago Sky, with Rickea Jackson going the other way. Cameron Brink is emerging as a key piece, and Nneka Ogwumike is expected to re-sign.

However, even with the extra cap space from Kelsey Plum’s deal, the team missed out on top targets, as Satou Sabally, Azura Stevens, and Skylar Diggins have already committed elsewhere, which reduces the impact of her financial sacrifice.

That said, do you think Kelsey Plum made the right call taking a pay cut for team success, or should she have secured the supermax?

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma