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Alexa Philippou
The Washington Mystics have traded Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun in trade for Jacy Sheldon and the correct to a first-round decide swap in 2026, the groups introduced Thursday.
Washington can select to maintain the 2026 first-round decide in its possession — initially owned by the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx — or take Connecticut’s first-rounder that it obtained from the New York Liberty, who’re at present second within the standings.
The Mystics, who’re in a rebuilding part, have been lively forward of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET commerce deadline, additionally dealing Brittney Sykes for Alysha Clark and Seattle‘s 2026 first-round decide earlier this week.
Edwards, who performed collegiately at UConn, was drafted sixth total by the Mystics in 2024. The 6-foot-3 ahead averaged 7.0 factors and 4.7 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per recreation in Washington.
“Bringing Aaliyah to the Connecticut Solar is greater than only a roster transfer; it is a assertion about the place we’re headed as a franchise,” Solar normal supervisor Morgan Tuck stated in an announcement. “Aaliyah is a transformational expertise with the mindset and drive that aligns with our imaginative and prescient of constructing a championship tradition. What actually units her aside is the way in which she leads, connects, and competes. Aaliyah is the form of individual and participant who may also help redefine the way forward for this group and we’re able to construct that future collectively.”
Edwards would be the nineteenth former UConn participant to affix the Solar for the reason that franchise relocated to Connecticut in 2003, based on ESPN Analysis.
She had seen her minutes dwindle this season after taking part in a bigger function for the Mystics final 12 months, and sources stated she had been the topic of commerce discussions for a lot of the season. Washington’s crowded frontcourt additionally options younger stars Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin and veteran Stefanie Dolson.
Sheldon was chosen fifth total by the Dallas Wings in 2024 earlier than being traded to the Solar this offseason. The 5-foot-10 guard has averaged 6.3 factors and a couple of.3 assists per recreation in her profession.
“We’re excited to welcome Jacy to the Mystics and suppose her talent set, vitality, and team-first strategy shall be an important match for us,” Mystics normal supervisor Jamila Wideman stated in an announcement. “She is a competitor and leads by means of the instance of her work-ethic. She has constructed on her stable rookie marketing campaign and demonstrated a capability to shoot the ball and skim the sport on each ends of the court docket.”