Mystics deal All-Star Brittney Sykes to Storm for Alysha Clark, pick
Sykes averaged 15.4 points and a career-high 4.4 assists in 25 games (all starts) for Washington in her third season with the franchise.
The Mystics (13-15) are in ninth place in the WNBA, one game out of the eighth and final playoff spot, but their general manager said the move allowed the 31-year-old Sykes to pursue a championship in the near term.
"We're grateful for Slim's (Sykes') contributions this season as she played a key role in our growth," Mystics GM Jamila Wideman said in a statement. "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."
In nine WNBA seasons with the Atlanta Dream (2017-19), Los Angeles Sparks (2020-22) and Mystics (2023-25), the 31-year-old Sykes has played in 265 games (198 starts) and averaged 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per contest.
The Mystics will focus on their young core of Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin while adding Clark, who's in her 13th season in the league.
The 2023 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year returned to Seattle in the offseason to begin her second stint with a franchise where she won league championships in 2018 and 2020. She was averaging just 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds through 27 games (seven starts).
Clark, 38, played for the Mystics in 2022 and started 29 games. In 408 career games (255 starts) with Seattle (2012-20, 2025), Washington (2022) and the Las Vegas Aces (2023-24), she has posted 6.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range.
Cooke, 24, averaged 3.3 points per game off the bench for the Storm. Shortly after acquiring Cooke, The Mystics waived the third-year pro.
--Field Level Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
NFL to review Isaiah Bond's sexual assault case after Texas cops declined to charge Browns hopeful
The NFL is reviewing the case of rookie free-agent wide receiver Isaiah Bond after Frisco, Texas police declined to proceed with sexual assault charges against him in April. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told on Friday that Bond's case is currently being reviewed. The league's personal conduct policy does not require criminal charges in order for a player to be punished, so the fact that Bond wasn't charged won't protect him from a possible suspension. Bond has not signed with a team yet, but previously announced his intention to join the Cleveland Browns. ESPN is reporting that Bond will meet the Browns in Cleveland on Saturday night to finalize his deal following the team's preseason game in Philadelphia earlier in the day. 'First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cleveland Browns for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to continue my career in the NFL,' Bond said in a statement after charges against him were dropped. 'Football has been my passion since I was six years old, and playing at this level is a blessing I will never take for granted. I understand that playing in the NFL is a privilege, and I'm thankful every day to live my childhood dream. 'I know there have been questions and reports about the recent allegations,' he continued. 'I am grateful for the decision of the prosecutor and the courts not to pursue charges. I will learn from this experience as I grow in wisdom, character, and faith. 'On the advice of my attorney, I will not discuss the details of this case, but I want to be clear: from the very beginning I have refuted these allegations and maintained my innocence. I stand firm by that today.' Details of the allegations remain unclear, but Bond has filed suit against his accuser, claiming their encounter was consensual and that the woman was seeking a financial settlement. According to the complaint obtained by Daily Mail, the accuser 'did make the indirect threat that, due to Bond's high-profile status, Bond "better be careful not to catch a case."' Bond's attorneys claimed he asked the woman to leave at that point, only for her to demand $5,000 or face the accusation that he 'assaulted her during their consensual sexual encounter.' Both sides have since agreed to a resolution and the case was dismissed with prejudice. Bond made a name for himself at Texas with his blinding speed and later ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in just 4.39 second. He was expected to be a Day 2 draft pick, with ESPN's Mel Kiper arguing he should go before the third round. But, following the sexual assault claims, Bond went undrafted in April. Now he has a chance to catch on in Cleveland, where the Browns are looking to complement star receiver Jerry Jeudy with a deep threat who can stretch opposing defenses downfield. Of course, head coach Kevin Stefanski is still working to determine which of his five quarterbacks will be under center in Week 1: Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Brett Hundley, Joe Flacco or Kelly Pickett.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Twins recall OF James Outman, put OF Alan Roden (thumb) on IL
August 16 - The Minnesota Twins recalled James Outman from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday and placed fellow outfielder Alan Roden on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb sprain. Outman, 28, is set to make his Twins debut after he batted .235 (12-for-51) with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 12 games with St. Paul. He was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline for right-hander Brock Stewart. Outman hit .224 with 30 homers and 88 RBIs in 230 games over four seasons with the Dodgers. The move is retroactive to Friday for Roden, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline. Roden, 25, is 6-for-38 (.158) with one homer and one RBI and five runs in 12 games with Minnesota. He is batting .191 with two homers and nine RBIs in 55 career games with the Blue Jays and Twins after making his major league debut March 27. --Field Level Media
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Reports: Big Ten floats expanding CFP to 24 or 28 teams
August 16 - The Big Ten is exploring the idea of a massive expansion of the College Football Playoff field to 24 or 28 teams, multiple outlets reported Saturday. The proposal is still "in the very early stages," with Big Ten commissioner Tony Pettiti discussing it with his league's athletic directors on Wednesday, according to ESPN. The 28-team model would reportedly eliminate conference title games and offer a high number of automatic bids to Power 4 conferences: seven each for the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference and five each for the Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference. There would be two auto bids for the remaining conferences plus two at-large teams. Under this plan, the CFP committee would seed the field and select the at-large teams. The 2025 season marks the second year with a 12-team playoff, with the Big Ten's Ohio State winning it all after the 2024 campaign. CFP executives have until Dec. 1 to notify media partner ESPN of any expansion plans for 2026. Plans discussed to this point have generally focused on a potential 16-team format. --Field Level Media
