Liberty among WNBA trade deadline losers with key questions looming
New York Post · RC · trust 39/100
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Add The New York Post on Google The WNBA trade deadline historically is a dull date in the calendar.
The league’s hard salary cap makes it difficult to maneuver midseason trades. That didn’t change in the new collective bargaining agreement, which drastically increased player wages.
But this year’s deadline did yield two notable trades, including a blockbuster move that sent Kelsey Plum to the Mercury.
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Plum is only the fourth All-Star in league history to be part of a midseason trade, according to ESPN.
The Sparks saw the writing on the wall and acted accordingly. They previously had traded a major haul to acquire Plum before last season. That included sending away the No. 2 pick of the 2025 WNBA draft, which the Seattle Storm turned into Dominique Malonga.
Plum was in Los Angeles for not even two years and planned to test free agency in the offseason. The Sparks, who are 5 ½ games out of a playoff spot with 17 left to play, needed to get some return as they look toward their future.
The Sparks added Monique Akoa Makani, who’s under contract through 2027 before becoming a reserved free agent, plus Phoenix’s 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder.
Connecticut traded Aneesah Morrow to Toronto for the player rights of Maria “Masha” Kliundikova and the Tempo’s 2028 second-rounder. Overall, this seemed like a win-win situation for all involved.
The Tempo filled the need for a young big, with Morrow’s rookie contract running through 2028.
Meanwhile, the Sun get a solid player in Kliundikova plus a future pick. The only major concern with Kliundikova is her availability — it’s unclear whether Kliundikova will return to the WNBA next season — but she could be a solid addition if she chooses to come over.
Golden State was tied to the Plum sweepstakes early, but those talks never went anywhere. The Valkyries seem locked in on their current iteration of the roster, which has gone 19-9, good for third in the league standings.
However, in the age of “Big Threes,” the Valkyries appear to be one piece away from being a formidable championship contender.
The Liberty are betting on getting healthy in time for the playoffs. However, they haven’t provided concrete timelines for Leonie Fiebich (left foot injury) and Satou Sabally (concussion protocol).
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has struggled to reestablish herself while coming back from a yearlong layoff. Michelle Farsi for NY Post The other wrinkle in this is Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who’s in a tough situation. She’s on a prove-it contract after signing a one-year, $400,000 deal. Her value, though, tanked over the course of this season as she struggled to reestablish herself while coming back from a yearlong layoff because of knee surgery. She’s racked up six consecutive healthy scratches.
Will she earn a spot back in the rotation now that the deadline has passed? Do the Liberty think she’s not in a position to contribute on a nightly basis?
Monday’s game against the Seattle Storm might shed some light on that.
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