In a major move ahead of the WNBA trade deadline, the Washington Mystics have traded 2025 All-Star and veteran guard Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm in exchange for veterans Alysha Clark and Zia Cooke, and Seattle’s 2026 first-round pick.
To finalize the deal, Washington waived forward Sike Koné and later released Cooke.
Sykes, 31, was in her third season with the Mystics and is coming off a strong campaign that earned her first All-Star selection and a spot on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. Affectionately called “Slim,” Sykes averaged 15 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game during her time in Washington.
“We’re grateful for Slim’s contributions this season as she played a key role in our growth,” said Mystics General Manager Jamila Wideman. “We’re proud of the individual success she achieved during her time with us, including earning her first All-Star selection. This allows Slim the opportunity to join a team that is expected to contend for a championship this season.”
With this trade, the Storm has now added a dynamic two-way guard to a playoff-ready roster that already features guard Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Gabby Williams.
Returning to Washington is Clark, a three-time WNBA champion and 2023 Sixth Player of the Year. Clark signed with the Mystics in 2021, but missed the season due to a Lisfranc injury in her right foot.
The 13-year veteran forward made her Mystics debut in 2022 and recorded career averages of 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Clark is bringing her elite resume on both ends of the floor back to Washington.
Washington now holds three first-round picks in the 2025 draft and additional assets in 2026. The Mystics will have plenty of options next season to bolster their roster with emerging talent.
Some of those options include UCLA center Lauren Betts, Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles, or they may even have the opportunity to bring University of Connecticut guard Azzi Fudd back home to the DMV.
The Sykes-Clark trade further emphasizes Washington’s clear focus on reshaping the long-term development for the franchise.
“This was a great opportunity to continue building our program and move us closer to our long-term goals,” said Wideman. “Alysha brings veteran leadership that is invaluable as our team continues to develop and grow.”
Mystics Ship Aaliyah Edwards to Connecticut Sun
With the 2025 trade deadline looming, the Washington Mystics make their second notable twist in the trade pool, sending forward to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for guard Jacy Sheldon and 2026 first-round draft picks, which were previously picks that belonged to the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty.
This move marks Sheldon’s third team in just over a year, but this deal offers the 5-foot-10 guard a fresh opportunity to make an impact. Sheldon is quietly emerging as one of the league’s top-tier perimeter threats, shooting 41.2% beyond the arc, placing 11th in the WNBA.
She is bringing valuable floor spacing and shooting to the Mystics, a team ranked near the bottom in three-point percentage (32.2%) and is without Sykes, Washington’s leading scorer, who was just traded to Seattle.
A former Ohio State standout and the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Sheldon has proven herself to be a smart two-way contributor. Though she started her rookie campaign in Dallas before joining the Sun before the 2025 season, she carved out a rotation spot early with her defensive awareness, efficient shot selection (47% FG), and ability to create plays for her teammates.
This season, Sheldon has been averaging 7.5 points and 2.5 assists in just 24 minutes per game.
In return, Connecticut received Aaliyah Edwards, a physical yet dominant forward who was selected sixth overall in 2024, just one pick after Sheldon. Edwards has been a bright spot in an emerging Washington lineup, providing toughness, rebounding, and inside scoring.
Known for her energy and versatility, Edwards departs from Washington averaging 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. Her potential to grow into a two-way force in the paint makes her a strong long-term addition for the Sun, who continue to build their frontcourt around youth and athleticism.
The Sykes-Clark and Edwards-Sheldon trade further signals Washington’s clear focus on reshaping the long-term development of the franchise.
“If you can find moments to listen and understand other people, I think I’m actually most comfortable when I can become invisible and watch a space that I’ve been a part of helping to create and look at how other people’s talents can thrive in that space,” said Wideman. “I think Coach Syd [Sydney Johnson] and I share some of the same DNA.”
Wideman emphasized how her connection with the head coach creates a stronger foundation to support players within the Mystics franchise.
“I think for him that’s a lot of his ‘why’ as well and so together we’re hoping to create that kind of space for players who are here and spend time with the Mystics and they see that as a chance for them to shine,” Wideman continued, “that they see there’s room for them to mark their identity and who they are into that moment.”
