Brittney Sykes Bolts to Toronto, and the Storm's Worst Trade Just Got Even Worse
Remember when the Seattle Storm made what looked like a win-now move last August? Yeah, that deal is officially a disaster. All-Star guard Brittney Sykes, the centerpiece of that trade, just signed a lucrative two-year contract with the Toronto Tempo as a free agent. ESPN's Alexa Philippou broke the news Friday, and it's the latest gut punch in what's become arguably one of the worst trades in franchise history.
The Trade That Haunts Seattle
Here's what went down last summer: the Storm sent forward Alysha Clark, guard Zia Cooke, and their 2026 first-round pick to the Washington Mystics for Sykes. The team was 16-14 at the time and struggling hard, dropping four wins in its last 11 games. It was a "save the season" move. It didn't work.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThe Storm finished 23-21 and got bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Not great. And Sykes? She averaged 11.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over 14 regular-season games. But here's where it really stung: in the postseason, her numbers cratered. She put up just 4.3 points per game across three playoff games while playing 22 minutes per contest. When you're giving up a first-round pick and two solid players, you need your All-Star to show up when it matters. She didn't.
What's Left For Seattle
Now Sykes is gone to Toronto on a better deal, and the Mystics get to use that first-round pick the Storm handed over. They're selecting No. 9 overall in Monday's WNBA draft with a pick that Seattle was hoping would help rebuild. That's salt in the wound right there.
The Storm's free agency period just keeps getting worse. This one stings because it was supposed to be the fix. Instead, it's become the cautionary tale. As the team heads into the new season, they'll have to find a way to move forward without the player they mortgaged their future for.
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