The 2025 WNBA trade deadline closed at 3 p.m. ET on August 7. Several teams completed deals that altered their rosters ahead of the final stretch.
TL;DR
- Minnesota Lynx acquired DiJonai Carrington to strengthen defense.
- Seattle Storm added Brittney Sykes in exchange for multiple assets.
- Washington Mystics traded Aaliyah Edwards while receiving backcourt help.
- Activity stemmed from the expiring CBA and new draft-pick rules.
- Playoff positioning shifted for at least four teams with 16 games remaining.
Headline Trades of the 2025 WNBA Trade Deadline
Minnesota entered the deadline with the league’s best July record. The Lynx sent Diamond Miller, Karlie Samuelson and a 2027 second-round pick to Dallas for DiJonai Carrington. Carrington’s perimeter defense complements Napheesa Collier’s interior scoring. Dallas gained a young forward with higher draft pedigree for a reset.
Seattle completed a larger deal on August 5. The Storm received Brittney Sykes from Washington in return for Alysha Clark, Zia Cooke and a 2026 first-round pick. Sykes supplies scoring and playmaking next to Skylar Diggins-Smith. Washington obtained future picks and younger players during its rebuild phase.
Hours before the deadline the Mystics moved Aaliyah Edwards to Connecticut. Washington received Jacy Sheldon and the right to swap a 2026 first-round selection. Edwards joins a Sun roster that lost every starter from the prior season. Sheldon adds backcourt depth for Washington while Georgia Amoore recovers from injury.
| Team | Acquired | Sent | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Lynx | DiJonai Carrington | Diamond Miller, 2027 2nd | A |
| Seattle Storm | Brittney Sykes | Alysha Clark, 2026 1st | A+ |
| Washington Mystics | Jacy Sheldon, pick swap | Aaliyah Edwards, Brittney Sykes | B |
| Connecticut Sun | Aaliyah Edwards | Jacy Sheldon, pick swap | B+ |
The table above summarizes the four-team movement and assigned grades based on immediate roster fit versus long-term flexibility.
Factors Driving Activity at the 2025 Deadline
The current collective bargaining agreement expires October 31, 2025. A new agreement is expected to raise minimum salaries and create additional free-agent movement after the season. More than 100 players, including most All-Stars, will enter unrestricted free agency. Contenders therefore accelerated win-now acquisitions.
New league rules permit teams to trade draft picks up to three years forward. This change allowed deals centered on 2026 and 2027 selections that previously could not be moved. Eight of thirteen teams still qualify for the postseason, and lottery odds are calculated on a two-year record window. Rebuilding clubs therefore prioritized future assets over current veterans.
Salary-cap limits and a 12-player roster ceiling normally constrain trades. Teams worked around these constraints by attaching conditional picks and using waived-player exceptions creatively.
Trades That Did Not Happen
Marina Mabrey remained with Connecticut despite earlier trade requests. The Sun kept the guard who averaged double-digit scoring and assists. Shakira Austin and Emily Engstler also stayed in Washington after the Mystics focused on moving higher-salaried veterans.
Dallas declined offers for Arike Ogunbowale and Myisha Hines-Allen. The Wings retained their leading scorer even though her field-goal percentage sat below 37 percent. Indiana likewise made no moves, trusting its existing core around Caitlin Clark.
New York, sitting at 18-10, added Emma Meesseman earlier in the summer and chose to keep its rotation intact. The Liberty judged that current depth would suffice for title defense.
Updated Playoff Implications
Carrington’s addition gives Minnesota an elite wing defender for a potential fifth championship run. Seattle’s perimeter trio of Sykes, Diggins-Smith and Gabby Williams improves spacing and transition play. The Storm now project as a top-six seed rather than a play-in participant.
Washington’s youth movement centers on rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. The club sits one game from the eighth seed and will rely on those players plus Sheldon for the remainder of the schedule. Connecticut gains a 2024 lottery pick who can anchor the frontcourt during its longer rebuild.
With sixteen regular-season games left, seeding battles will intensify. The Lynx and Storm emerge as clearer title threats while the Mystics and Sun stockpile selections for 2026.
Looking Ahead to 2026 Season
Salary increases scheduled under the next CBA will alter roster construction. Current minimum salaries stand at 66,079 dollars for players with zero to two years of service. Teams holding extra draft capital, such as Washington, can target college standouts including Olivia Miles and Lauren Betts.
Contenders will balance immediate contention with future flexibility once free agency opens. The Lynx and Storm have positioned themselves to compete for the 2025 title while the Mystics prepare for a higher draft position in 2026.
Next steps
Follow updated standings and remaining schedule on the official WNBA site. Monitor free-agent signings once the regular season concludes on September 11.
