The WNBA offered us probably the most lively Commerce Deadlines in league historical past this yr, even when it was solely three week-of trades and 5 whole in-season trades. Nonetheless, we’ll take it!
It’s the right quantity of motion to provide followers a little bit style of commerce chaos with out being too overwhelming. Within the spirit of a summer season commerce deadline (it seems like Christmas in July?), let’s grade each in-season WNBA Commerce.
Li Yueru to the Dallas Wings: A-
Li Yueru is traded from the Seattle Storm to the Dallas Wings in alternate for Dallas’s 2026 Second Spherical choose (which incorporates the correct to swap with the Connecticut Solar), and Dallas’s 2027 Third Spherical Decide (which incorporates the correct to swap with the Indiana Fever.
The primary in-season commerce of the WNBA season was requested by the participant concerned. It didn’t look like there was any dangerous blood between Li and the Storm, however she was not getting the on-court time that she or her workforce needed. Ultimately, the Storm discovered a deal to ship her to the Dallas Wings in alternate for draft choices. Given the very fact this was requested, and Seattle was capable of finding a touchdown place for Li that appears to be understanding for her whereas additionally retaining some draft inventory, it appears to have labored out. She has been getting the taking part in time she requested with the Wings, and appears to be content material with the transfer. Whereas there’s a little little bit of improvement to be achieved on her half (primarily defensively), either side received what they needed.
NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces: B+
NaLyssa Smith is traded from the Dallas Wings to the Las Vegas Aces in alternate for the Aces’ 2027 first-round draft Decide.
The primary surprising commerce of the season got here in late June when the Wings dealt NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces in alternate for a 2027 first-round choose. It could be secure to imagine Las Vegas initiated these talks given their workforce’s wants within the frontcourt, and the Wings (who’re in rebuilding mode) have been probably blissful to commerce one earlier first-round choose for a future one.
Smith, a earlier No. 2 general draft choose in 2022, match the Aces’ want for frontcourt help to pair with A’ja Wilson. The one motive this transfer will get a B+ fairly than a better mark is that Emma Messeman would turn out to be obtainable simply weeks after it occurred, and he or she would have been phenomenal for Vegas, if she selected to go there.
DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx: A+
DiJonai Carrington is traded from the Dallas Wings to the Minnesota Lynx in alternate for Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 first-round choose.
The commerce that actually kicked off a enjoyable WNBA commerce deadline was the Dallas Wings dealing DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx. What an awesome match for Carrington, because the WNBA All-Protection and Most Improved Participant from 2024 heads to Cheryl Reeve’s defense-first system. Reeve will unlock Carrington’s sport, and as a younger participant nonetheless creating, taking part in on a workforce stuffed with championship-caliber vets versus having to guide a youth-focused workforce is what Carrington wants proper now. The Lynx add to their depth with a talented wing who can minimize, defend the perimeter and can carry lots to their bench.
For Dallas, they get a participant in Diamond Miller who higher matches their youth-focused timeline. Whereas they ended up waiving Karlie Samuelson because of her season-ending harm, they may proceed to facilitate her restoration. In addition they needed to waive Teaira McCowan on this transfer, however she was already taking part in behind Li Yueru and Luisa Geiselsöder, so she’s not an excessive amount of of an on-court loss. Total, this was an awesome transaction for each groups.
Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm: A-
Brittney Syles is traded from the Washington Mystics to the Seattle Storm in alternate for Alysha Clark, Zia Cooke, and Seattle’s 2026 first-round draft choose.
Washington joined the get together late within the sport, however proved that being fashionably late is helpful in lots of instances. Their first large transfer was buying and selling Brittney Sykes to the Storm, and getting again Alysha Clark, Zia Cooke, and a 2026 first-round choose. The Mystics, in flip, waived Zia Cooke, however stored on Clark to exchange the veteran presence Sykes dropped at the workforce.
For the Storm, including Sykes offers them important depth on the guard spot and permits them to combine and match lineups with Sykes and Skylar Diggins. Diggins (as a lot as she could need to) can’t play 40 minutes per sport into the playoffs, but the workforce has struggled with out her. Including in Sykes is a superb transfer to assist them higher their playoff possibilities. Does it elevate the Storm to championship caliber? Perhaps not, however it’s an enchancment for positive.
Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Solar: A
Aaliyah Edwards is traded from the Washington Mystics to the Connecticut Solar in alternate for Jacy Sheldon and the correct to swap Washington’s 2026 first-round choose (Minnesota’s) for Connecticut’s 2026 first-round choose (New York’s).
The WNBA’s final commerce earlier than the deadline struck at 3 pm EST on Thursday, and concerned Canadian Olympian and UConn alum Aaliyah Edwards. It was not surprising, given the reviews that the Mystics had been exploring commerce choices for the second-year participant over a month in the past. She finally ends up heading to the Connecticut Solar, returning to the state she performed faculty hoops at, whereas the Mystics get again a guard in Sheldon.
This commerce works effectively for either side — Connecticut provides a gifted first-round choose to their roster who they may have below contract for an additional two seasons (in the event that they select to take her workforce choice for 2027). Edwards, in the meantime, is a superb participant who fell behind within the rotation behind Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen in Washington. Her commerce worth is excessive, and with out affirmation that the Mystics would have house to guard her in an growth draft, this transfer was to get one thing again for her.
If she have been left free, the Toronto Tempo probably wouldn’t have wasted any time snatching her up, and the Mystics would have gotten nothing in return. For Washington, they get one other younger participant to meet the guard spot left open by Brittney Sykes.
