Aaliyah Edwards was the last player to be moved before the trade deadline. She was traded from the Washington Mystics to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Jacy Sheldon and the rights to swap first-round picks in 2026.
Just last year, the Mystics selected Edwards with the sixth overall pick. She played big minutes in her rookie season and showed great potential. Edwards averaged 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in her first WNBA season, and continued to impress when she played in Unrivaled.
Nevertheless, Edwards fell out of the Mystics’ rotation this season, as it became clear that the organization did not see her as a part of its young core. The Sun can give her everything the Mystics weren’t willing to hand her this season: an opportunity to play big minutes and prove herself as a young player the team can build around.
The 2025 rookie class is the Mystics’ priority
Edwards was a high draft pick, but, after the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Mystics have plenty of those. While Georgia Amoore hasn’t played yet due to an ACL injury, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have been beyond impressive. Iriafen’s emergence as an All-Star alongside Shakira Austin’s improved play shrank Edwards’ role.
It quickly became obvious that the Mystics wanted to build around their rookies, and Edwards wasn’t a big part of the team’s future. Trading her or leaving her unprotected in the next expansion draft was the only way to give her a chance at a bigger role.
The Sun are still trying to find players to build around
The Connecticut Sun have an interesting group of young players. Leila Lacan, Rayah Marshall, Aneesah Morrow, Olivia Nelson-Odonata, and Saniya Rivers are all in their early twenties. Except for Nelson-Ododa, all of them are still under contract for a few seasons. Edwards fits in well with that group and should get a chance to play more minutes than she did in Washington.
The Sun are still trying to figure out which players could be building blocks for the future. Leila Lacan has impressed with her mature two-way play, Saniya Rivers is already a defensive menace, and Aneesah Morrow recorded a handful of double-doubles. Edwards can use the rest of the season to show the Sun what she can do and potentially convince the organization to make her a centerpiece of their rebuild.
After the trade was announced, Sun GM Morgan Tuck released a statement: “Bringing Aaliyah to the Connecticut Sun is more than just a roster move; it’s a statement about where we’re headed as a franchise. Aaliyah is a transformational talent with the mindset and drive that aligns with our vision of building a championship culture. What truly sets her apart is the way she leads, connects, and competes. Aaliyah is the kind of person and player who can help redefine the future of this organization, and we’re ready to build that future together.”
If that statement is any indication, the Sun are ready to hand Edwards a big role. She just has to prove them right once she gets onto the court.