Seattle Storm make big trade for All-Star Brittney Sykes

The Seattle Storm just showed how serious they are about making a run this season, executing a trade Tuesday with the Washington Mystics for All-Star guard Brittney Sykes.

Going to the Mystics from Seattle in the deal are forward Alysha Clark, guard Zia Cooke and one of the Storm’s three 2026 first-round WNBA Draft picks.

Sunday: Seattle Storm fall to Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever 78-74

The 5-foot-9 Sykes is a well-regarded defensive player, having received to the WNBA All-Defensive honors four times – twice each as a first team and second team nominee. She’s also a two-time league steals champion.

Coming in at #9 for top blocks on the szn, @BrittBundlez comes over with the backside help and says “get that out” 💪#WNBABlocksWeek pic.twitter.com/QqXjxyIeRd

— WNBA (@WNBA) November 28, 2023

At 31, Sykes was a first-time All-Star this season. In 25 games for Washington, she averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. She’s shooting 37.9% on field goals, 31.8% on 3-pointers and 78.5% on free throws.

The Storm will be Sykes’ fourth WNBA team in nine seasons. She was drafted No. 7 overall in the first round in 2017 out of Syracuse by the Atlanta Dream. After three seasons with Atlanta, she spent the next three with the Los Angeles Sparks, then joined the Mystics in 2023.

Sykes, who is in the last year of a three-year contract, will join a strong lineup that features Gabby Williams, Ezi Magbegor, and fellow 2025 All-Stars Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike.

Brittney Sykes put on another DOMINANT performance in the @WashMystics‘ win over the Sun 🗣️

28 PTS (17 in 3Q)
3 REB
6 AST

She now has the most 20+ PT games in the league this season!

WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by @coinbase pic.twitter.com/JgK2JRAITw

— WNBA (@WNBA) June 8, 2025

“We’re grateful for Slim’s contributions this season as she played a key role in our growth,” Washington GM Jamila Wideman said. “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 15 games remaining in the regular season, the Storm are 16-13 after losing three of their last four games. They are in sixth place in the WNBA, eight games back of the first-place Minnesota Lynx (24-5). The top eight teams in the league make the playoffs.

Clark has played more than 300 games for the Storm in two stints with the team and helped the franchise win two WNBA championships in 2018 and 2020.

This season she’s averaging just 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. Clark has been impactful off the court over the years in the city starting the organization’s annual toy drive benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Cooke averaged just over 10 minutes a game this season and has shot a career-best 38.2% from behind the 3-point arc. She was the No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft by Los Angeles. She spent two seasons there before coming to Seattle.

Washington (13-15) is a game out of the playoffs at the moment.

The league’s trade deadline is Thursday.

The Storm play the Lynx in a 7 p.m. home game Tuesday at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.

This post includes contributions from The Associated Press.

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