Countdown to the 2025 WNBA Trade Deadline: Key Moves and Implications for the Future
WNBA Trade Deadline Approaches: Teams Make Strategic Moves Ahead of Playoff Push
As the clock ticks down to the 2025 WNBA trade deadline, set for Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, teams are scrambling to finalize their rosters for a playoff run or to stockpile assets for the future. This year’s deadline is particularly intriguing, with a wave of players poised to enter free agency for the 2026 season, coinciding with the start of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
In a flurry of activity leading up to the deadline, the Washington Mystics made headlines with their second trade of the week, sending Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Jacy Sheldon and the rights to a potential first-round pick swap in 2026. This move signals a continued rebuild for the Mystics, who earlier traded All-Star guard Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm for Alysha Clark, guard Zia Cooke, and another first-round pick in 2026. Sykes, averaging 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, is expected to bolster Seattle’s playoff aspirations as they currently sit sixth in the league standings.
The trade frenzy began on Sunday when the Minnesota Lynx and Dallas Wings struck a deal that saw guard DiJonai Carrington head to Minnesota while the Wings acquired forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round draft pick. This marks Carrington’s second trade of the year; she was previously acquired by the Wings in February after being named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team and winning the league’s Most Improved Player award. Her arrival in Minnesota comes at a crucial time as the Lynx look to fill the void left by All-Star Napheesa Collier, who is sidelined for at least two weeks due to an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, is seeking a fresh start in Dallas after starting all 32 games in her rookie season but failing to secure a starting role in 2025. Samuelson was waived shortly after the trade, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
The looming financial implications of the new CBA could significantly alter the WNBA landscape, with discussions around salary caps, player salaries, and revenue sharing taking center stage. Currently, the minimum salary for players with 0-2 years of experience stands at $66,079, while those with 3+ years earn a veteran minimum of $78,831. Supermax contracts cap out at $249,244, and the salary cap for each team in 2025 is set at just over $1.5 million, as reported by Her Hoops.
Earlier this season, the Las Vegas Aces made a surprising move by acquiring forward NaLyssa Smith from the Wings in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick. The Aces, currently sitting at 15-14 and seventh in the league standings, are looking to regain their championship form as the playoffs approach.
With the trade deadline just hours away, teams are poised to make bold moves that could reshape the playoff picture and set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 2025 season. Fans can follow along with live updates and highlights on Yahoo Sports as the clock runs down on this pivotal day in WNBA history.
