Caitlin Clark rival gets dealt as WNBA's first trade deadline domino falls

Jeremy Beren

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Caitlin Clark rival gets dealt as WNBA's first trade deadline domino falls image

David Butler II-Imagn Images

A Caitlin Clark "rival" is changing teams on Thursday, as the WNBA's 3 p.m. Eastern trade deadline looms.

Guard Jacy Sheldon has been traded from the Connecticut Sun to the Washington Mystics, and forward Aaliyah Edwards is heading from Washington to Connecticut. In addition, the Mystics are getting a 2026 draft pick swap in the deal.

MORE: Seattle Storm trade for 15.4 PPG scorer while dealing away player, pick to chase playoffs

Sheldon, 24, is joining her third WNBA team in two years. The fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Sheldon started 17 games for the Sun this season, averaging 7.5 points per game and shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.

Many fans though know Sheldon for her intense rivalry with Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark. The two were collegiate adversaries, when Clark played for Iowa and Sheldon starred for Ohio State; in June, Sheldon was assessed a flagrant foul on Clark, which sparked a confrontation between the two during a Commissioner's Cup game.

Sheldon will add backcourt depth in Washington, which traded All-Star Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm earlier this week. The Mystics, at 13-16, are one game out of the final playoff spot.

Meanwhile in Connecticut, the Sun will try to tap into Edwards' huge potential. The former UConn standout was drafted one slot behind Sheldon in the 2024 draft, but she did not start a single game in Washington this season; the Mystics had been working to trade her for a while, seeing as rookie All-Star Kiki Iriafen has been a starter since the season began.

Edwards this season is averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in just over 13 minutes per game. The 5-23 Sun will offer her playing time and significant development opportunities. 

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Jeremy Beren

Jeremy Beren is a freelance WNBA writer with The Sporting News. A Phoenix native, he is a graduate of Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and he has a decade’s worth of sports journalism experience. Jeremy's work has appeared in publications such as Marca, SB Nation, Athlon Sports and Vice Sports. He currently lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.