Aaliyah Edwards and Jacy Sheldon have officially joined new WNBA teams.
The Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics have swapped two 2024 first-round players in the latest move ahead of the 2025 WNBA deadline.
The Sun acquired forward Aaliyah Edwards from the Mystics in exchange for guard Jacy Sheldon and the right to swap 2026 first-round draft picks.
Brittney Sykes trade grades: Who won the Mystics and Storm deal?
The move sends Edwards, a player who had fallen out of regular rotation with Washington, to a rebuilding Sun team and Sheldon to a franchise with a lot of young players at their disposal.
Neither team is positioned to make the playoffs right now, but both teams clearly valued what they received in the deal as parts of long-term franchise planning. Let's break down how each team fared in the deal.
Trade details
The Sun receive: F Aaliyah Edwards
The Mystics receive: G Jacy Sheldon, the rights to swap their 2026 first rounder (originally belonging to the Lynx) for the Sun's first rounder (originally belonging to the Liberty)
Breaking: The Washington Mystics' Aaliyah Edwards has been traded to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Jacy Sheldon and the right to swap Washington's 2026 first-round pick (MIN's) for Connecticut's first-round pick (NY's). pic.twitter.com/VBlKEjIpdD
— espnW (@espnW) August 7, 2025
Sun grade
The Sun unquestionably won this trade. Edwards flashed real potential during her first season with the Mystics, averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds during her rookie campaign. Her numbers are down in 2025, but that's partly because the new Washington coaching staff didn't always prioritize her strengths in the game plan. If the Mystics really couldn't figure out how to tap into Edwards' potential, perhaps the Sun will give her more room to grow. Edwards can return to Connecticut, where she played her college ball, and forge a more long-term role with a franchise needing all the talent it can get. Sheldon did solid work for the Sun, but Edwards has a higher ceiling.
Grade: A
Mystics grade
If the Mystics couldn't figure out what to do with Edwards, trading her was always the best option. Sheldon will help Washington at guard after the franchise traded away Brittney Sykes earlier in the week, and she can run the point until 2025 rookie guard Georgia Amoore returns next year from injury. At that point, Sheldon will perhaps slide into a valuable bench role for Washington and keep the franchise's focus on young talent for the future. It still feels a little strange that the Mystics gave up on Edwards so quickly, but Sheldon is a solid consolation on a rookie contract.
Grade: B
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Aaliyah Edwards-Jacy Sheldon trade grades: Who won the Sun-Mystics deal?
Category: Basketball
