2025 WNBA Trade Scenarios That Could Shake Up The League

The 2025 WNBA Commerce deadline ends on Thursday, August seventh, at 3 PM ET. Now could be the time for groups to make a ultimate push and purchase gamers that might assist push their crew into the playoffs and even assist with a rebuild. Ballislife has the right mixture of potential trades for 4 particular gamers.

Marina Mabrey to the Golden State Valkyries 

The Golden State Valkyries are an thrilling crew to take a look at proper now. Playoff contenders of their inaugural season, the Valkyries have a 14-14 report below head coach Natalie Nakase.  Because it stands, the Valkyries have draft capital and younger gamers that the Connecticut Solar might worth. With Kayla Thornton, the centerpiece of their fluid offense, out as a consequence of damage, Marina Mabrey might grow to be the veteran focus.

Previous to the 2025 WNBA season, it was introduced that Marina Mabrey had requested a commerce from the Solar, and Connecticut denied it. Now can be the right time to commerce Mabrey, particularly given Connecticut’s WNBA-worst 5-22 report. In 18 video games this season, Mabrey has averaged 14.2 factors, 4.6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Effectively rattling… what an evening for Marina Mabrey pic.twitter.com/zbvl79rkit

— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) June 7, 2025

The Valkyries might use Mabrey, as they try probably the most 3-pointers per recreation and wish somebody to switch Thornton’s manufacturing. Mabrey might additionally shortly emerge as a fan favourite—the Valkyries have an electrical ambiance and lead the league in attendance.

Though the Valkyries are usually not full championship contenders, having a veteran like Mabrey on the crew might potential sneak them previous the primary spherical.

Commerce State of affairs: Golden State Valkyries obtain Marina Mabrey; Connecticut Solar obtain Kate Martin, 2026 second-round decide, and a 2027 second-round decide. 

Aaliyah Edwards to the Dallas Wings

It was reported to start with of July by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou that the Washington Mystics would try to maneuver Aaliyah Edwards. There are a number of groups that ought to inquire about Edwards together with the Dallas Wings. That is very true given the Wings cleared up roster house by releasing Teaira McCowan after the DiJonai Carrington commerce.

Edwards is a younger ahead that may provide rebounding and measurement, which the Wings might use. Underneath GM Curt Miller, Dallas shouldn’t be in full rebuild mode fairly but, however continues so as to add gamers round their rookie famous person Paige Bueckers. Not solely would this make sense with the discharge of McCowan, however Edwards was a former teammate of Paige Bueckers at UConn.

Aaliyah Edwards went off final evening for the Mystics, dropping a profession excessive 23 PTS, 14 REB & 4 BLK 🙌

Tonight the rook is correct again at it vs. the Indiana Fever beginning at 7:30pm/ET on ION

WNBA Commissioner’s Cup introduced by @coinbase pic.twitter.com/edDnKGF7x2

— WNBA (@WNBA) June 7, 2024

This commerce feels both inevitable or just makes an excessive amount of sense. It might be a win-win state of affairs, because the Wings would probably want to surrender a first-round decide (therefore the NaLyssa Smith commerce). With a possible transfer, the Mystics would obtain draft capital and wouldn’t be bothered by becoming Edwards right into a rotation that already contains rookie Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin. Since buying and selling Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm, the Mystics now have three first-round picks in 2026. 

Commerce State of affairs: Dallas Wings obtain Aaliyah Edwards; Washington Mystics obtain 2027 first-round decide (from Las Vegas) and Aziaha James.

Arike Ogunbowale to the Chicago Sky

Probably the most unlikely participant to be moved by the deadline is Arike Ogunbowale. Nonetheless, there may be all the time that small probability a excessive profile participant like Ogunbowale might get traded. The Dallas Wings are greater than more likely to transfer on from the seven 12 months veteran, it’s solely a matter of three eventualities: 

Do they wish to preserve her after subsequent season?
Will they be keen to pay her an even bigger wage ?
Would they relatively get one thing of worth for her now then letting her stroll?

Proper now the Wings enter a special section, and proceed so as to add items round Paige Bueckers. Ogunbowale is a star participant on this league that might assist a struggling crew, such because the Chicago Sky.  If traded to Chicago, Ogunbowale would add to their present rebuild, and the Sky are missing scoring manufacturing from their guards. That is primarily as a consequence of accidents to Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins. 

ARIKE FC!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/9RKkWPfc1K

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) July 31, 2025

Dropping Vandersloot for the season was an enormous blow, and Atkins has missed seven video games thus far. This leads the Sky to lean on Rebecca Allen and Rachel Banham which isn’t the best setup for Chicago. 

Buying a guard of Ogunbowale’s caliber would imply they might obtain a 3-level scorer in addition to a participant who can elevate the strain off Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese when the protection collapses. This works of their favor and Dallas will get one thing of worth earlier than Ogunbowale presumably walks. 

Commerce State of affairs: Rachel Banham, Michaela Onyenware, 2027 first-round decide. 

Azurà Stevens to the Indiana Fever

A blockbuster transfer for the Indiana Fever can be buying and selling for Los Angeles Sparks star Azurà Stevens. The Fever are a backside 5 crew by way of common rebounds per recreation. Stevens not solely would assist them on the glass, however she would elevate the Fever as a real flooring spacer. Stevens is a dynamic huge that will completely be an improve to pair with Aliyah Boston. 

Proper now, Stevens is averaging 14.9 factors, 8.5 rebounds, taking pictures 50.2 p.c from the sphere and 40.5 p.c from past the arc with the Sparks.

Azurá Stevens doesn’t even see her defender as she sinks the transition 3⃣

LAS-SEA | ION pic.twitter.com/303FyhghN2

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 2, 2025

Though it is a attain of a state of affairs, it really works in a manner that the Sparks would get a return on Stevens whose contract expires after this 12 months. The Fever get an improve within the frontcourt, and if Caitlin Clark have been to come back again earlier than the season ends, Stevens provides her extra room to function with on offense. 

Commerce State of affairs: Indiana Fever obtain Azurà Stevens; Los Angeles Sparks obtain Natasha Howard and 2026 first round-pick.