Dupree, Mercury part ways; Sparks acquire Sims


More players switched teams in the WNBA. Here are some of the major transactions over the past week.

The Los Angeles Sparks were quick to fill the void created by Kristi Toliver's decision to join the Washington Mystics as they traded for scorer Odyssey Sims.

Sims averaged 14 PPG and 3.9 APG for the Dallas Wings last year. The Sparks will also get the Wings' first round pick (11th overall) in the 2017 draft from the deal.

The Wings, in return, will get two picks from the Sparks: the fourth overall and the 23rd overall picks.

Just last year, the Sparks also acquired the services of Riquna Williams from the Wings -- then the Tulsa Shock -- although Williams went down with an injury.

Just having both of them on the roster for the Sparks gives the team assurance they will get a lot of firepower from their backcourt.

With their frontcourt core of Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, and Jantel Lavender still intact, people can expect the defending champions to again be one of the top squads in the league in the upcoming season.


Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever, Connecticut Sun, and Phoenix Mercury executed a six-player deal which involves WNBA champion Candice Dupree as the headliner.

The three-team trade saw Dupree part ways with the Mercury --where she won the title back in 2014 -- to join the Fever. The Fever also receive the 17th overall pick in the 2017 draft.

The Sun received Lynetta Kizer and the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, while the Mercury landed Camille Little and Jillian Aleyne.

Dupree averaged 11.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.9 APG last season for the Mercury, shooting 54.1 percent from the floor overall. With her addition to the Pokey Chatman-coached Fever, Indiana can get more space on offense while also getting a decent rebounder and defensive presence.

Dupree will likely play the stretch four position for the Fever. She shall join Erlana Larkins, Nat Achonwa, and Marissa Coleman as the team's main frontliners.

Kizer is the latest addition to Connecticut's retooled frontcourt, which also includes Chiney Ogwumike, Jonquel Jones and Reshanda Gray. Kizer averaged 9.6 PPG on 55.6 percent shooting last season. Her ability to dive to the basket off pick and rolls and move well without the ball will give the Sun an additional option inside on offense.

Little, a 10-year pro, spent her last two seasons in Connecticut. In the 2016 season, she averaged 7.8 PPG and 3 RPG. It's going to look even more different for the Mercury now as only three of their five starters from the 2014 championship line-up remain.



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