ESPN’s Shams Charania is always the first to deliver, but this time, it seems he missed the mark! This Sunday, Shams dropped the news of Kelsey Plum’s trade to the Los Angeles Sparks. As it aired, the basketball world buzzed with excitement. However, what unfolded next was an entirely different drama, involving WNBA journalists.

Shams Charania was called out for reporting the news late. It all came after the deal, finalized over the weekend, sent Plum to the Sparks to rejuvenate their struggling franchise, which finished last season with a league-worst 8-32 record. Meanwhile, Jewell Loyd, who requested a trade from the Seattle Storm, is now with the Aces as they aim for their third championship in four years.

In return, Seattle acquired the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and Li Yueru. Reporting the news, Shams wrote, “The Storm are acquiring the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and Li Yueru from the Sparks in this three-team trade, with the Sparks getting No. 9 from Seattle and the Aces receiving No. 13 from LA, sources tell me.”

While the tweet spread like wildfire, Annie Costabile, a Chicago Sky reporter, had already reported on the trade talks a day earlier.

Costabile wrote, “According to multiple league sources, a proposed three-team trade that would send Jewell Loyd to the Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Sparks and assets to the Storm is the first domino that needs to fall in free agency,” on the 26th of January. And all this didn’t go unnoticed. Fans and fellow journalists were quick to defend Costabile’s scoop.

Fans unite to defend Kelsey Plum’s early reporting

Despite the controversy, the trade itself is monumental. Loyd, a six-time All Star and 2015 Rookie of the Year, brings her scoring prowess to a star studded Aces team led by A’ja Wilson. Averaging 19.7 points and nearly 4.5 rebounds, Loyd cemented her status as one of the league’s premier players.

On the other hand, Plum’s move to the Sparks represents a fresh start for the two-time champion. The Spark’s desperate to turn their fortunes around, are banking on Plum’s veteran leadership and offensive firepower. As of now Plum’s averaging 17.8 points and this has led her to earn third All-Star nod.

Considering the involvement of the most notable names, and probably one of the most anticipated news, users seemed eager to highlight where the credit was due.

“Still waiting on the trade details. Thanks for dipping your toe in the water, but Annie gave us this info a day ago, Shams. 😐,” commented a journalist at Winsidr. “Alright, now. Jewell Loyd to Vegas and Kelsey Plum to the Sparks. @AnnieCostabile was first on this possible deal happening,” another added.

One journalist summed up, tweeting, “Fore the record, @AnnieCostabile you are that girl.”

Costabile covers the Chicago Sky and the WNBA for the Chicago Sun-Times and hosts, produces, and edits the Equal Pay Podcast. She has closely followed the free agency this season, offering her takes on Chennedy Carter not receiving the qualifying offer to Loyd being off the table for Saky. Safe to say the journalist had her audience hooked.

One noted, “Jewell Loyd to Vegas and Kelsey Plum to the Sparks. @AnnieCostabile was first on this possible deal happening.”

While the trade undoubtedly shifts the WNBA landscape, the broader conversation about recognizing women journalists like Costabile is equally important. “So, @AnnieCostabile, you were right when you broke this yesterday????? Got it.” added another user. Free agency might have just started but it couldn’t have started better.  ‘A domino that need to fall,’ as per Castabile.