What Wednesday s blockbuster WNBA trades mean and how they impact each team
What Wednesday s blockbuster WNBA trades mean and how they impact each team
At 29, Natasha Howard, who helped Seattle win two titles, is likely to play a big role in New York s long-term future after Wednesday s trade.
Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
One of the busiest days in WNBA offseason history saw five teams combine to make five trades involving seven players and five draft picks on Wednesday, highlighted by 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard heading to the New York Liberty and the Dallas Wings landing the No. 1 overall pick.
Kia Vaughn is a good player for the Phoenix Mercury to bring back, but they likely have to give up Jessica Breland. They hope to get an impact player at No. 6 in the 2021 WNBA Draft to round out their roster.
Hawkins made $71,400 last year. #NewWNBACBA
Atlanta now has about $33,663 in cap room remaining. This means that they will have to cut some salaries to sign their first round draft pick. In the original version of the article, I made the assumption that the Dream would “save” cap space for the third pick.
The original article is below and is clarified to show the change.
On Thursday, Tianna Hawkins signed a multi-year contract with the Atlanta Dream, according to Aryeh Schwartz of WInsider. Hawkins is the second unrestricted free agent from the Washington Mystics’ 2020 roster to leave the team, following Aerial Powers last week.
Phoenix Mercury fans are hoping Brittney Griner’s mysterious early exit from the IMG Academy bubble last year, where the 2020 season was played, won’t interfere with what the team is trying to build around her, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi, the last of whom seemed to return to her true form and has now earned herself a supermax contract.
2020 Olympic Women’s Basketball Field: Team-by-Team Summaries
Date:
1. USA
: No. 2 in the world / No. 1 in FIBA Asia
Olympic Record vs. USA: The USA is 7-0 all-time against Australia at the Olympics and 34-4 all-time in major international events, including at the junior level and excluding exhibitions and invitationals.
Road to Tokyo: Australia finished third at the 2019 FIBA Asia Cup; first at the 2019 FIBA Asia Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament; and first in its group at the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bourges, France.
Olympic Finishes: The 2018 FIBA World Cup silver medalist has captured three silver medals (2000, 2004 and 2008) and two bronze medals (1996 and 2012) in eight Olympic appearances since 1984 when the nation finished tied for fifth place (out of six teams). Australia also finished fourth in 1988 and fifth in 2016.