On Thursday, the Washington Mystics traded ahead Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Solar in alternate for guard Jacy Sheldon and first-round swap rights within the 2026 WNBA Draft. This transfer comes hours earlier than the deadline ends at 3 p.m. ET.
Residence Candy Residence: Aaliyah Edwards Returns to Connecticut
Edwards, chosen sixth total within the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics, spent her collegiate profession alongside Paige Bueckers at UConn. All through her tenure with Connecticut, she averaged 7.0 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 18.5 minutes per sport.
Earlier in July, ESPN reported that the Mystics have been in search of a brand new residence for Edwards, who has performed restricted minutes and has handled accidents all through the season.
With the commerce, Edwards has the chance to develop and be taught from former UConn alums, Tina Charles and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who presently anchor Connecticut’s frontcourt. Moreover, Edwards joins Connecticut’s younger core with Saniya Rivers and Aneesah Morrow because the franchise builds towards the longer term.
“Bringing Aaliyah to the Connecticut Solar is greater than only a roster transfer; it’s an announcement about the place we’re headed as a franchise,” Connecticut Solar basic supervisor Morgan Tuck mentioned in press launch. “Aaliyah is a transformational expertise with the mindset and drive that aligns with our imaginative and prescient of constructing a championship tradition. What really units her aside is the best way she leads, connects, and competes. Aaliyah is the sort of particular person and participant who may help redefine the way forward for this group and we’re able to construct that future collectively.”
As Edwards heads again to Connecticut, she’ll present rebounding and dimension for the workforce, which sits final in workforce rebounds per sport with 31.4. Not solely that, however she may very well be one of many gamers the franchise leans on for the longer term.
Jacy Sheldon Provides 3-Level Capturing to the Washington Mystics
Sheldon heads to the Mystics, who’re in full rebuild mode, and will get a chance to flourish in Sydney Johnson’s teaching system. She brings her 3-point taking pictures and talent to attain in any respect three ranges to Washington, which ranks tenth within the league in 3-point taking pictures share (32.2 %). Plus, her defensive prowess ought to assist uplift a Mystics workforce that might want to fill Brittney Sykes’s departure.
All through her skilled profession, Sheldon performed for the Dallas Wings, who chosen her fifth total within the 2024 WNBA Draft out of Ohio State. Earlier this yr, she was traded to the Connecticut Solar, the place she appeared in 28 video games and averaged 7.5 factors, 1.9 rebounds, and a couple of.0 assists per sport this season.
“We’re excited to welcome Jacy to the Mystics and suppose her ability set, vitality, and team-first strategy will probably be an awesome match for us,” Washington Mystics Basic Supervisor Jamila Wideman mentioned in a press launch. “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 browse the sport on each ends of the courtroom.”
In line with Kareem Copeland of The Washington Publish, Sheldon will be part of the Mystics as they’ll face Paige Bueckers and the Wings in Dallas on Sunday.
Mystics Deal with Future by Buying Extra WNBA Draft Picks
The Washington Mystics have been going by means of a rebuilding part over the previous yr, with the departures of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins, plus the retirement of Elena Delle Donne. This season, they’ve turn out to be one of many shock groups, competing for one of many remaining playoff spots alongside the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks.
On Tuesday, the Mystics traded veteran guard Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm in alternate for Zia Cooke, who was later waived by the workforce, Alysha Clark, and Seattle’s first-round choose within the 2026 WNBA Draft. Total, the workforce holds six future picks within the 2026 WNBA Draft.
The Mystics proceed to give attention to the event of the longer term with the acquisition of Sheldon and two first-round picks within the 2026 WNBA Draft. Within the 2025 WNBA Draft, Washington chosen all-stars guard Sonia Citron third total, Kiki Iriafen fourth total, and guard Georgia Amoore, who’s out for the season with a torn ACL, sixth total.
To not point out that forward-center Shakira Austin can be one of many shiny spots for the Mystics sooner or later as properly. When she is absolutely wholesome for Washington, she dominates on each ends of the courtroom and scores aggressively within the paint. With the emergence of Austin and Iriafen, Edwards merely acquired misplaced within the rotation.
The commerce between the Solar and Mystics is a win-win for each groups, as Sheldon and Edwards might succeed of their new teaching methods and construct confidence.
