The WNBA commerce deadline is well over a month away, however the Chicago Sky aren’t ready till then to make strikes.
It’s a full-on youth motion within the Windy Metropolis, and the group has despatched veteran Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Solar in a transaction that’s certain to show heads.
The Sky are nonetheless rebuilding, however the Solar are title contenders and will problem the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Nonetheless, earlier than they will upset Vegas, they must beat New York — a group that has merely kicked its tails up and down the courtroom THREE TIMES this season.
Including Mabrey, who has averaged 18 factors and almost three made photographs from behind the arc in her final 15 video games in opposition to the Liberty, to the roster definitely passes an preliminary eye check. However let’s break down how this commerce went for each side.
Breaking: The Chicago Sky have traded Marina Mabrey and a 2025 second-round choose to the Connecticut Solar, the group introduced.
The Sky obtain Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, the 2025 first-round draft choose and the rights to swap 2026 first-round picks. pic.twitter.com/HMF2HAG73W
— espnW (@espnW) July 17, 2024
Commerce particulars:
The Sky get: Guards Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson and a 2025 first-round draft choose, plus the rights to swap a 2026 first-round choose
The Solar get: Guard Marina Mabrey and a 2025 second-round choose
(Photograph by Candice Ward/Getty Photographs)
Chicago Sky:
This commerce goes to be a tricky one for Chicago Sky followers to swallow.
Though Marina Mabrey’s play was inconsistent, and she or he most likely made just a few followers need to pull out their hair watching her shoot free throws, she was a reasonably respectable presence from the 3-point line. Giving up a 34 % shooter proper now may not seem to be a giant deal. However the actuality is that the Sky are DEAD LAST in 3-pointers made per sport (4.5) within the WNBA.
Moreover, the Sky gave up a LOT to get Mabrey in a four-team commerce final season, together with its first-round draft picks in 2024 and 2025. They recouped a little bit of that, however the commerce nonetheless feels heavy.
There’s additionally one thing else to contemplate. What are the Chicago Sky going to do about Dana Evans?
Per Annie Costabile of the Chicago Solar-Instances, Evans was benched after simply 12 video games as a starter. Regardless of her manufacturing, Evans was averaging half-hour and is now right down to 13.8 minutes. Moreover, she was alleged to be a starter till Marina Mabrey confirmed up. With Mabrey gone, does that imply that Evans will get an expanded function? Will her at present declining minutes instantly go up? The Sky has some choices to make.
Commerce grade: C
(David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Connecticut Solar
I’m not mad about this transfer in any respect for the Connecticut Solar. (Nonetheless, I ship my condolences to Rachel Banham. She set a WNBA file for many 3-pointers off the bench simply days in the past, and now she’s been traded. OUCH.)
Including Mabrey to the roster is a large increase for Connecticut. They get a confirmed menace off the bench who might help gamers like DeWanna Bonner, Ty Harris and DiJonai Carrington proceed their reign of terror from past the arc.
They’ll want that in the event that they plan on beating groups just like the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces all through the season and ultimately making the playoffs. I’ve spent little bit of my weekly WNBA energy rankings calling the Solar frauds as a result of they will’t sustain with the league’s finest, and this transfer may assist them really be legit. Nicely executed, Solar.
Commerce grade: B
