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Kelsey Plum recently confirmed that taxes played a role in her decision to sign a one-year, $999,999 deal with the Los Angeles Sparks – rather than the $1.4 million supermax contract she was eligible for under the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement. The four-time All-Star and two-time WNBA champion, speaking with YouTuber Austin Franklin, said clearly that “taxes” were part of the equation when landing at that specific number.
There’s just one problem with that.
The California Mental Health Services Act – commonly called the “millionaire’s tax” – is a progressive tax. That means it only applies to every dollar earned above $1 million. Plum’s first million would have been completely untouched by it. Signing for $1 million, or even somewhat above it, wouldn’t have cost her a dollar more in taxes on that initial amount.
Stop offering Kelsey Plum $1 😂 pic.twitter.com/fmDrmGlAhd
— Austin Franklin (@austinfrankln) May 1, 2026
Fans on social media were quick to point out the misunderstanding.
Pookie doesn’t understand taxes, we gotta get her a new accountant https://t.co/k55ukPEvG9
— Jules🕵️ #AT4MVP (@squinternz) May 2, 2026
Plum, for her part, has taken it in stride. She told Franklin that people have repeatedly walked up and offered her $1 since the contract became public – an offer she’s playfully turned down each time.
This is the second straight offseason Plum has signed a one-year deal, which at least keeps her options open. She’ll be able to renegotiate with the Sparks or test the market again next offseason. Whether she has a better handle on California tax law by then remains to be seen.
