The WNBA provided us one of the most active Trade Deadlines in league history this year, even if it was only three week-of trades and five total in-season trades. Still, we’ll take it!
It’s the perfect amount of movement to give fans a little taste of trade chaos without being too overwhelming. In the spirit of a summer trade deadline (it kind of feels like Christmas in July?), let’s grade every in-season WNBA Trade.
Li Yueru to the Dallas Wings: A-
Li Yueru is traded from the Seattle Storm to the Dallas Wings in exchange for Dallas’s 2026 Second Round pick (which includes the right to swap with the Connecticut Sun), and Dallas’s 2027 Third Round Pick (which includes the right to swap with the Indiana Fever.
The first in-season trade of the WNBA season was requested by the player involved. It didn’t seem like there was any bad blood between Li and the Storm, but she was not getting the on-court time that she or her team wanted. In the end, the Storm found a deal to send her to the Dallas Wings in exchange for draft selections. Given the fact this was requested, and Seattle was able to find a landing place for Li that seems to be working out for her while also retaining some draft stock, it seems to have worked out. She has been getting the playing time she requested with the Wings, and seems to be content with the move. While there is a little bit of development to be done on her part (mainly defensively), both sides got what they wanted.
NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces: B+
NaLyssa Smith is traded from the Dallas Wings to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for the Aces’ 2027 first-round draft Pick.
The first shocking trade of the season came in late June when the Wings dealt NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick. It would be safe to assume Las Vegas initiated these talks given their team’s needs in the frontcourt, and the Wings (who are in rebuilding mode) were likely happy to trade one previous first-round pick for a future one.
Smith, a previous No. 2 overall draft pick in 2022, fit the Aces’ need for frontcourt support to pair with A’ja Wilson. The only reason this move gets a B+ rather than a higher mark is that Emma Messeman would become available just weeks after it happened, and she would have been phenomenal for Vegas, if she chose to go there.
DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx: A+
DiJonai Carrington is traded from the Dallas Wings to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 first-round pick.
The trade that truly kicked off a fun WNBA trade deadline was the Dallas Wings dealing DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx. What a great fit for Carrington, as the WNBA All-Defense and Most Improved Player from 2024 heads to Cheryl Reeve’s defense-first system. Reeve will unlock Carrington’s game, and as a young player still developing, playing on a team filled with championship-caliber vets as opposed to having to lead a youth-focused team is what Carrington needs right now. The Lynx add to their depth with a skilled wing who can cut, defend the perimeter and will bring a lot to their bench.
For Dallas, they get a player in Diamond Miller who better matches their youth-focused timeline. While they ended up waiving Karlie Samuelson due to her season-ending injury, they will continue to facilitate her recovery. They also had to waive Teaira McCowan in this move, but she was already playing behind Li Yueru and Luisa Geiselsöder, so she’s not too much of an on-court loss. Overall, this was a great transaction for both teams.
Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm: A-
Brittney Syles is traded from the Washington Mystics to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Alysha Clark, Zia Cooke, and Seattle’s 2026 first-round draft pick.
Washington joined the party late in the game, but proved that being fashionably late is beneficial in many cases. Their first big move was trading Brittney Sykes to the Storm, and getting back Alysha Clark, Zia Cooke, and a 2026 first-round pick. The Mystics, in turn, waived Zia Cooke, but kept on Clark to replace the veteran presence Sykes brought to the team.
For the Storm, adding Sykes gives them essential depth at the guard spot and allows them to mix and match lineups with Sykes and Skylar Diggins. Diggins (as much as she may want to) can’t play 40 minutes per game into the playoffs, yet the team has struggled without her. Adding in Sykes is a great move to help them better their playoff chances. Does it raise the Storm to championship caliber? Maybe not, but it’s an improvement for sure.
Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun: A
Aaliyah Edwards is traded from the Washington Mystics to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Jacy Sheldon and the right to swap Washington’s 2026 first-round pick (Minnesota’s) for Connecticut’s 2026 first-round pick (New York’s).
The WNBA’s last trade before the deadline struck at 3 pm EST on Thursday, and involved Canadian Olympian and UConn alum Aaliyah Edwards. It was not shocking, given the reports that the Mystics had been exploring trade options for the second-year player over a month ago. She ends up heading to the Connecticut Sun, returning to the state she played college hoops at, while the Mystics get back a guard in Sheldon.
This trade works well for both sides — Connecticut adds a talented first-round pick to their roster who they will have under contract for another two seasons (if they choose to take her team option for 2027). Edwards, meanwhile, is a great player who fell behind in the rotation behind Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen in Washington. Her trade value is high, and without confirmation that the Mystics would have space to protect her in an expansion draft, this move was to get something back for her.
If she were left free, the Toronto Tempo likely would not have wasted any time snatching her up, and the Mystics would have gotten nothing in return. For Washington, they get another young player to fulfill the guard spot left open by Brittney Sykes.
