Kelsey Plum Jokes About Finding Extra Dollar After Signing $999,999 Deal with Sparks

Kelsey Plum has become the Los Angeles Sparks' leading superstar after her trade ahead of the 2025 season.

Kelsey Plum Jokes About Finding Extra Dollar After Signing $999,999 Deal with Sparks

Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Kelsey Plum signed a one-year contract worth $999,999 with the Los Angeles Sparks.
  • Her decision to take a pay cut saved her $10,000 in taxes due to California's tax rules.
  • Plum's salary sacrifice allowed the Sparks to enhance their roster for a championship push.

Once the players and the WNBA came to terms with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, it was clear that veteran superstars, such as Kelsey Plum, would earn annual salaries of more than a million dollars.

The new Supermax was set at $1.4 million, which meant that every team with a superstar worth that money could ask for it. In the case of the Los Angeles Sparks, they placed the core tag on their star guard, which made it possible for her to earn that money.

After all, she was the spark that saw them turn their 2025 season around after initially struggling to win games. Led by the two-time champion, the franchise almost made it to the playoffs.

This season, the organization wants to go for it all and decided to splurge in free agency. After spending cash on quality additions that they felt were needed for a title push, it was Kelsey Plum‘s turn to earn her payday.

ESPN’s lead insider, Shams Charania, revealed that the 31-year-old had agreed to sign a one-year contract worth $999,999. Instantly, this news went viral, as fans felt the Sparks could not muster up the one dollar needed to give their ultra-competitive guard that million-dollar salary.

I guess I found that extra dollar.

Kelsey Plum wrote on X

The guard shared a picture of her seated on a bench holding her dogs, while another person holds a one-dollar bill. This was her way of joking about the entire episode, as one of her teammates signed for much more.

Kelsey Plum saved $10,000 with $999,999 salary

While many basketball fans found the $999,999 to be comical on the part of the Los Angeles Sparks, others, particularly those who are informed about California’s tax rules, were grinning.

Kelsey Plum's pay-cut allows Dearica Hamby to earn more
Kelsey Plum’s pay-cut allows Dearica Hamby to earn more (Image via ESPNw/X)

That is because by simply taking a dollar less, Kelsey Plum has managed to avoid paying 1% more in taxes to the California government. In numbers, that equates to $10,000 saved.

Since she is now a single earner after her much-publicized divorce from ex-husband and NFL star Darren Waller. Therefore, her return on that $1 deduction was multifold.

However, those aware of her endorsement deals might wonder how she could save that tax. She earns a lot more through her deals with Under Armour, Kingmaker Cigars, and Skims than the Sparks can give her.

She might not be making Caitlin Clark or Sabrina Ionescu-esque money, but she still earns a pretty penny, as the jovial superstar is a sponsor’s magnet.

Kelsey Plum may be receiving endorsement money in a staggered fashion, which may be helping her avoid the considerable tax her home state is known for. Even if it is not that, then taking a substantial pay cut when she could have asked for the $1.4 million indicated she wanted to help her team.

Kelsey Plum’s pay cut helps Sparks become contenders

Last season was a learning phase as everything was new. Kelsey Plum was going to play with an entirely new roster for the first time in her career, which also meant learning the schemes of new head coach Lynne Roberts.

Now, she knows their tendencies, and the Sparks were pre-season favorites to make it to the playoffs. Then came the expansion draft, and they lost their starting point guard and Plum’s favorite rookie, Sarah Ashlee Barker.

Then, once free agency opened, it became clear that some players might move elsewhere to land better contracts. The Sparks, knowing this, went headfirst trying to get some important transactions done.

They ensured they brought back franchise great Nneka Ogwumike after her one-year stint with the Seattle Storm. Soon, they signed three-time All-Star Dearica Hamby to a multi-year contract at a salary that was much more than that of Kelsey Plum.

Then, a trade followed, and now, the team find themselves with a roster that can go toe-to-toe with the best of them. Without Plum’s sacrifice, none of this would have happened.

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