Former WNBA first-round pick gets fresh start with Sun

Just hours before the WNBA trade deadline (Thursday at 3 p.m. ET), the Washington Mystics made another move centered on their rebuild, sending second-year forward Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Jacy Sheldon and a 2026 first-round pick swap.

For Washington, the deal is about two things. The first is getting Edwards a fresh start while acquiring more draft capital. Sheldon, the No. 5 pick out of Ohio State in 2024, brings shooting and energy to a Mystics backcourt that has leaned heavily on Brittney Sykes and Ariel Atkins in recent years. Second, the pick swap also gives Washington more flexibility in 2026, as it continues to accumulate assets in hopes of finding its next franchise star.

For Connecticut — soon to be Boston in 2027 after the franchise’s impending sale and relocation — this move signals a commitment to building a rugged, athletic young frontcourt. Edwards, a standout from UConn, playing limited minutes and her physicality, rebounding motor and defensive upside project well alongside rookies Saniya Rivers and Aneesah Morrow. That trio could eventually become the backbone of the next era loading in Boston.

Rivers has flashed playmaking and on-ball defense, while Morrow continues to rebound like a veteran. Now with Edwards, the Sun have one of the league’s most intriguing young frontcourts — strong, versatile and tough-minded. In a few years, they could be one of the most formidable trios in the league.

Edwards’ return to Connecticut should also be a seamless transition, given her collegiate stardom at UConn and familiarity with the area. As the Sun prepare to build toward their Boston debut, this trade feels like more than just a deadline move — it’s a foundation play.