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Kevin Pelton
The Aug. 7 WNBA commerce deadline may not produce a lot in the best way of fireworks. The WNBA’s arduous wage cap makes in-season offers difficult, and 10 of the league’s 13 groups are inside putting distance of the playoffs, that means extra wish to add expertise for the stretch run than commerce it away.
Nonetheless, it is attainable for groups to assist their playoff push on the deadline. We have already seen one in-season commerce, with the Las Vegas Aces buying NaLyssa Smith from the Dallas Wings and plugging her instantly into their beginning lineup. And the Minnesota Lynx bolstered their workforce for final 12 months’s Finals run by including Myisha Hines-Allen on the deadline.
With that in thoughts, let’s check out some real looking trades that might shake up WNBA rosters looking forward to this 12 months’s playoffs and past.
Storm add Mabrey to backcourt
Seattle Storm get: Guard Marina Mabrey
Connecticut Sun get: Forwards Alysha Clark and Katie Lou Samuelson, 2026 first-round choose
Within the wake of the commerce sending Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas this previous offseason, the Storm are in an attention-grabbing spot heading into the deadline. Seattle is competing for home-court benefit within the first spherical of the playoffs and in addition owns three first-round picks within the 2026 draft, with additional ones coming from the Aces and Los Angeles Sparks.
That would put Seattle in place to improve now whereas maintaining a tally of the long run. All-Star Brittney Sykes would most likely prime the Storm’s want listing, however with the Washington Mystics in playoff place, she may not be obtainable. There is no such concern with Mabrey, who unsuccessfully requested a trade from Connecticut final offseason. With the Solar at 3-20 and Mabrey headed towards unrestricted free company, a deadline deal is sensible.
The largest problem for Seattle in dealing for a backcourt improve — with Ariel Atkins of the Chicago Sky one other believable possibility — is creating cap room. The Storm have $223 of house proper now, per the Her Hoop Stats WNBA salary cap database, that means Seattle must ship again an enormous wage in return. Inevitably, that will be Clark, who has averaged fewer than 13 MPG throughout a 4-4 Storm stretch beginning July 9.
Shedding Clark’s veteran presence could be painful for the Storm, and everybody concerned would certainly desire a buyout settlement that will permit her to affix one other contender. If Seattle is severe about successful a playoff sequence, nonetheless, the workforce may use extra scoring threats. Solely the Storm’s 5 starters are averaging greater than 5 PPG this season. Mabrey, who has scored double digits every of the previous six seasons, could be an enormous improve together with her taking pictures and playmaking.
A Mabrey deal will not doubtless recoup what Connecticut gave as much as get her midseason final 12 months — a pricey choose swap that permits the Chicago Sky to swap the Phoenix Mercury‘s first-round choose for the Solar’s, all however assured to be within the lottery. Seattle’s personal first-round choose will doubtless land exterior the highest 10. However that is higher than letting Mabrey stroll in free company subsequent offseason.
Edwards returns to Connecticut
Connecticut Solar get: Ahead Aaliyah Edwards
Washington Mystics get: Guard Bria Hartley, 2026 first-round choose (worse of Chicago/Phoenix), 2027 second-round choose
ESPN’s Kendra Andrews and Alexa Philippou reported in the beginning of the month that the Mystics are working to trade Edwards, who has been surpassed on the Mystics’ energy ahead depth chart by rookie All-Star Kiki Iriafen. After beginning half of her video games and averaging 21.8 MPG as a rookie, Edwards is all the way down to 14.2 this season.
When she has performed, Edwards has been considerably extra productive this season, and he or she’s a 12 months faraway from being drafted No. 6. If the Solar may get the previous UConn Huskies star for his or her post-swap-pick, which might be thirteenth if the season ended at the moment, that will be a robust addition to their youth motion.
The looming enlargement draft is one potential incentive for Washington to get what it may now for Edwards. Draft picks do not have to be protected, opening a spot for one of many Mystics’ different younger gamers. Moreover, Hartley would possibly assist Washington at level guard. Again within the WNBA after a two-season absence, she has shot 35% on 3s for Connecticut.
Lynx load up for playoffs
Minnesota Lynx get: Ahead Emily Engstler
Washington Mystics get: Ahead Diamond Miller, 2027 second-round choose
Relying on what occurs with Edwards, Engstler could possibly be some of the attention-grabbing gamers to observe on the deadline. After she averaged 15.3 factors, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes in 2024, Engstler was a commerce goal final offseason, in accordance with a league supply, however the Mystics rebuffed presents for her.
Much more so than Edwards, Engstler has been buried on Washington’s depth chart this season. Saturday was the primary time Engstler performed greater than six minutes since July 3. She hasn’t shot effectively this season after hitting 47% of her 3s final season on a small pattern of makes an attempt (57), however she continues to rack up rebounds, steals and blocks at spectacular charges.
As a result of she’s making the WNBA minimal, Engstler is gettable for almost any workforce. This deal sends her to Minnesota, which hasn’t discovered constant depth past prime reserves Natisha Hiedeman and Jessica Shepard. With few wing choices obtainable to be signed to low-cost contracts, the Lynx may ask Engstler to play on the perimeter, one thing she has executed at occasions with the Mystics.
On the opposite aspect, Washington would take a flier on Miller, the No. 2 choose in 2023, who has totaled simply 437 minutes over the previous two seasons.
Fever improve frontcourt
Indiana Fever get: Ahead Myisha Hines-Allen
Dallas Wings get: Heart Damiris Dantas, 2026 second-round choose
Like Mabrey, Hines-Allen may plausibly be on the transfer midseason once more. She misplaced her beginning job in late June, and Dallas is hoping to get ahead Maddy Siegrist again by season’s finish. When Siegrist was identified with an anterolateral tibial plateau fracture in mid-June, the Wings’ launch stated she was “anticipated to make a full restoration and return to the Wings lineup later this season.”
After taking pictures 36% on 3s final season, break up between the Mystics and Lynx, Hines-Allen is all the way down to 30% this season. Since Hines-Allen is a profession 35% shooter, enchancment needs to be anticipated. Even that down season from Hines-Allen has been higher past the arc than Dantas, taking pictures 26.5% (34% profession however simply 31% since 2021).
As a 3rd put up behind starters Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard, Hines-Allen needs to be an enchancment. And with the Wings 5 video games out of the eighth seed, getting something in return would most likely make this commerce price it.