The league’s midseason transaction deadline passed on Tuesday, resulting in a flurry of relatively uncommon WNBA trades.
For the first time since 2017, at least three in-season trades occurred league-wide this year, with salary cap and roster space posing challenges for midseason moves.
Seattle Storm signs Olympic silver medalist Gabby Williams
A significant announcement was the signing of Paris Olympics Best Defensive Player and French gold medal game hero Gabby Williams by the Seattle Storm. Williams returned to the Storm after missing the first half of the WNBA season to focus on playing with her European club and the France national team before the Olympics.
Following her partial contract in 2023, Williams signed a rest-of-season deal with the Storm. She played every game for Seattle after being traded by the LA Sparks in 2022.
“I am more than excited to be back in Seattle,” Williams said in a team release. “I have missed the organization, my teammates, and the fans tremendously. I am looking forward to finishing the season strong.”
Williams joins a talented starting roster featuring Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, and Ezi Magbegor.
WNBA trades, hardship signings shake up midseason rosters
The Washington Mystics traded Myisha Hines-Allen to the Minnesota Lynx for Sika Koné and Olivia Époupa, later releasing Époupa and Didi Richards. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Mercury traded Sug Sutton to the Mystics for the rights to Swedish star Klara Lundquist.
These recent WNBA trades follow the Chicago Sky’s exchange of Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun for Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham during the Olympic break.
In addition, hardship signings were prominent in the week’s WNBA trade news, with Monique Billings signing a seven-day contract with the Mercury and Odyssey Sims joining the LA Sparks.
Although the trade window has closed, deals can still be made as long as teams meet salary cap and roster requirements.
