Alysha Clark traded as Seattle Storm land All-Star Brittney Sykes in bold roster shakeup

The Seattle Storm are reinforcing their roster with a major move.

The team has acquired veteran guard Brittney Sykes from the Washington Mystics in exchange for Alysha Clark and a 2026 first-round pick. 

Zia Cooke was also included in the trade, though reports from ESPN’s Alexa Philippou indicate that the Mystics plan to waive her.

Sykes has had an impressive season so far, averaging 15.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals over 25 games. 

Her strong performance earned her a first All-Star selection, stepping in for Indiana’s Caitlin Clark.

At 31 years old, Sykes brings both experience and elite defensive skills to Seattle. 

A four-time All-Defensive Team honoree, she now joins a Storm squad that already ranks second in defensive rating across the WNBA, according to league data.

With this trade, Seattle strengthens its backcourt and doubles down on what’s already one of the league’s toughest defenses — positioning themselves as a serious contender in the second half of the season.