As part of a three-team trade, former Oregon basketball standout Satou Sabally is going to the Phoenix Mercury, an individual familiar with the transaction told The Associated Press.
Since the agreement had not been made public, the individual spoke on condition of anonymity.
Sabally was traded to the Dallas Wings in exchange for NaLyssa Smith and the eighth overall pick from the Indiana Fever, as well as Ty Harris and Kiki Herbert Harrigan from the Mercury.
Sophie Cunningham and Phoenix’s second-round pick will be acquired by the Fever.
Kalani Brown and Sevgi Uzun will also be acquired by the Mercury from the Wings.
The contract was initially reported by ESPN.
After Dallas selected her with the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Sabally informed them that she no longer wanted to play for them. She could only have departed by trade because the Wings had handed her the franchise tag.
On Sunday, September 15, 2024, in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Indiana Fever forward Damiris Dantas, No. 12, is driven on by Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally, No. 0. (Photo courtesy of Michael Conroy)AP
Only on Saturday, when free agents are permitted to sign, can the contract become official.
In order to get ready for the Olympics, Sabally was only able to play in 15 games for Dallas the previous season. Over the course of five seasons, she has averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.
The Wings won the lottery and will have the first choice in the WNBA draft, even though they lose Sabally.
For the first time since 2020, the Wings missed the playoffs after finishing 9-31 in the previous campaign.
According to a source familiar with the agreement, which can’t formally take place until Saturday, Indiana also signed free agent Natasha Howardon Friday.
For Phoenix, this offseason has been a time of transition. Brittney Griner, the Mercury’s standout center, declared her intention to sign with Atlanta. Additionally, it’s unclear if veteran Diana Taurasi will retire or return to the field.
A person familiar with the move informed the AP that the Mercury were completing a deal to acquire Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. Harris was involved in that Phoenix trade.
Harris just finished a career-best season at Connecticut, playing in 39 games and averaging 10.5 points and 3.0 assists. Harris spent her first three seasons in Dallas after being selected by the Wings with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. During her 88 games with the Wings, she averaged 5.2 points and 2.8 rebounds.
— AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg
