The WNBA trade deadline is quickly approaching, and two rebuilding WNBA teams have agreed on a trade that (should) make both teams better in the long term. The Connecticut Sun announced on Thursday that they’ve traded guard Jacy Sheldon for Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards. Both second-year players are far from their prime, but both have shown promise in the WNBA.
The Mystics also receive the right to swap their 2026 first-round pick (from Minnesota) for Connecticut’s 2026 first-round pick (from New York). The win benefits the Sun in that they add another talented forward to join Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aneesah Morrow in the long term.
Additionally, a beloved former University of Connecticut star returns to Connecticut — and she’ll likely draw a sizable UConn crowd to the Mohegan Sun Arena, too. It also benefits the Wings, who recently lost Brittney Sykes via trade and still don’t have Georgia Amoore for the rest of the season. Jacy Sheldon can handle the ball and shoot — and she’s a guard who the Mystics can add to their young core.
What the Washington Mystics get in Jacy Sheldon
Jacy Sheldon, who was acquired via trade from the Dallas Wings in the offseason, averaged 7.5 points and 2 assists this season, averaging 47% from the field and 41.2% from three. Sheldon showed promise on both ends of the floor and started 17 of 24 games this season.
Now, she’ll join a backcourt that includes rookie guard Sonia Citron and one that recently lost All-Star veteran Brittney Sykes, who was traded to the Seattle Storm earlier this week. Next year, Washington will also have Georgia Amoore, who tore her ACL shortly after being drafted, back in the mix.
What the Connecticut Sun get in Aaliyah Edwards
Aaliyah Edwards had a standout rookie season for the Mystics but was buried on the bench for much of this season, playing behind rookie forward Kiki Iriafen and center Shakira Austin. But this season, she averaged 6 points and 3.3 rebounds in just 13.3 minutes per game, down from 21.8 minutes last season.
In Connecticut, Edwards will join forces with rookie Aneesah Morrow in the frontcourt, and play alongside veteran center Tina Charles as well. Morrow and Edwards could anchor the team’s frontcourt for years to come.
The trade is a swap between two top-six picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft; Sheldon was the fifth overall pick, while Edwards was the sixth.
