Only a few hours earlier than the WNBA commerce deadline on Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Washington Mystics pulled the set off on two trades that may have implications on the long run path of the staff.
Washington traded Myisha Hines-Allen to the Minnesota Lynx for Olivia Époupa, Sika Koné and a second-round decide. Époupa subsequently was waived, so the return for Washington is Sika Koné and a second-round draft decide in 2026.
Roster Replace: Now we have acquired a 2026 second spherical draft decide, Sika Koné, and Olivia Époupa from the Minnesota Lynx in trade for Myisha Hines-Allen.
In a associated transfer, Époupa and DiDi Richards have been waived. pic.twitter.com/CpUENwyr4Y
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 20, 2024
In response to Throughout the Timeline, the Mystics now have the three youngest gamers within the league: Jade Melbourne (22 years, 4 days), Sika Koné (22 years, 40 days) and Aaliyah Edwards (22 years, 44 days). With this transfer, Washington is clearly on the lookout for younger gamers with excessive upside as they embark on their rebuild.
The Mystics stay in rivalry for the No. 1 decide within the 2025 WNBA draft. The Mystics additionally personal the Atlanta Dream’s first-round decide, however because the Dream preserve profitable and the Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings preserve dropping, immediately the Mystics have gone from having the very best odds to land the primary total decide to second-best odds.
It’s not an enormous concern, however provided that the Mystics not too long ago made one other commerce for a guard, it’s unclear which gamers might be part of the staff’s long-term rebuild. Washington additionally traded away the rights to Klara Lundquist to the Phoenix Mercury in trade for Sug Sutton and a 2025 third-round decide. Sutton has had a strong yr because the backup level guard in Phoenix and she’s going to doubtless be requested to be the backup level guard for Washington for the rest of the season.
Commerce Alert: Now we have acquired Sug Sutton and a 2025 third spherical draft decide from the Phoenix Mercury for the rights to Klara Lundquist. pic.twitter.com/iFyD9ZFuMB
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 20, 2024
Sutton initiated fairly a little bit of pick-and-roll for the Mercury when Natasha Cloud was on the bench. She is superb at controlling the tempo and tempo of the offense and never getting sped up or slowed down, which is an important aspect this younger Mystics staff has largely lacked. As well as, the Mystics acquired one more late-round decide. Despite the fact that most gamers drafted that late don’t make rosters, we’ve seen the Mystics bundle late-round picks in trades for rotation items or to maneuver up in drafts.
Mystics and Sparks battle for lottery lead
In what may as nicely be referred to as the “Tankathon” recreation, the Mystics face off in opposition to the Sparks on Friday, Aug. 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, ION). The 2 groups with the worst document within the league are vying for the very best lottery odds. As counterintuitive because it sounds, it will truly profit each groups to lose this recreation, as doing so would put them in place to safe the No. 1 decide.
Nonetheless, the matchup between Dearica Hamby and Shakira Austin might be very intriguing. Despite the fact that they don’t play the identical place, Austin is extra cellular on the perimeter than Stephanie Dolson so she doubtless might be tasked with guarding the Most Improved Participant frontrunner. In the identical breath, rookie sensation Rickea Jackson doubtless might be matched up with Brittney Sykes, who’s not too long ago coming back from harm.
