“On the court docket, we’re including an all-star caliber participant who is among the premier defenders within the sport…” stated Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb.
DALLAS — The Dallas Wings are staying true to their purpose in making a championship caliber staff this upcoming season with an enormous transfer Monday.
In a three-team trade involving the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun, Dallas acquired two-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA champion Natasha Howard, in addition to the enjoying rights to 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield.
In change, the Wings despatched ahead Kayla Thornton to New York and guard Ty Harris to Connecticut.
Howard is becoming a member of the Wings after an All-Star season with the New York Liberty, the place she began in 35 video games and averaged 15.1 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Not solely is she a three-time champ and two-time All-Star, however she’s additionally a two-time WNBA All-Defensive Team choice, the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and the 2018 Most Improved Player.
In 2019, when Howard performed for the Seattle Storm, she posted a career-year on each ends of the court docket. She averaged 18.1 factors and 8.2 rebounds per sport en path to incomes All-WNBA First Team honors. On the defensive facet that season, she led the WNBA in steals (74), setting a single-season franchise-high for the Storm.
Howard’s profession has included stops in Indiana (the place she was drafted fifth total in 2014), Minnesota, Seattle and New York.
“On the court, we are adding an All-Star caliber player who is one of the premier defenders in the game,” Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb stated. “Off the court, we are adding a veteran who has won on the biggest stage in the biggest moments. Rarely can you address as many needs in one transaction as we do with the addition of Natasha. We are excited to have her join our organization.”
Dangerfield, who’s getting into her fourth season within the WNBA, was named the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award after a breakout season by which she averaged 16.2 factors and practically 4 assists per sport for the Lynx. Over the whole lot of her three-year profession, she’s appeared in 85 video games, averaging 9 factors and three assists.
Dangerfield was drafted within the second spherical in 2020 out of the University of Connecticut by Minnesota. In her last yr as a Husky below Geno Auriemma, Dangerfield earned American Athletic Conference First Team honors, totaling practically 15 factors per sport.
“We are excited to obtain the exclusive negotiating rights to Crystal Dangerfield and the prospect of adding her to the Wings roster,” Bibb stated. “We look forward to working to sign her to an agreement and having her join the team. She is a player who adds depth and experience to our backcourt and brings the ability to score and distribute the basketball at an elite level.”
In the three-team trade deal, Thornton, who spent six seasons with the Wings, will head to the New York Liberty together with Connecticut Sun ahead and 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones.
Harris, who was drafted by the Wings in 2020, will be part of the Connecticut Sun together with New York Liberty guard Rebecca Allen.
The Sun can even obtain the sixth total choice within the 2023 WNBA Draft from New York.
“I would like to thank Kayla and Ty for their contributions, both on and off the court,” Bibb stated. “Both are outstanding basketball players and better people. We wish them the best both personally and professionally moving forward.”
The Dallas Wings will kick off their season in opposition to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, May 20, below new head coach Latricia Trammell.
During a press convention following her introduction in November 2022, Trammell expressed her pleasure over the job and vowed to deliver a direct affect to the Wings, highlighting that the staff wanted to degree up on the defensive finish.
Monday’s blockbuster deal is obvious of that mindset, as Howard and Dangerfield deliver an upgraded defensive mindset to the staff.
The Wings have made back-to-back playoff appearances, but it appears the squad simply hasn’t been in a position to recover from the hump by way of post-season wins.
For her half, Trammell appears able to take a crack on the Wings taking that leap this season, bringing her ardour, exhausting grit and championship mentality to the staff.
“They’re capable,” Trammell stated of the Wings roster in November when requested in regards to the staff’s prospects of enhancing upon its previous finishes. “Everyone is going to have an opportunity to eat.”
Clicked here for more information in regards to the Wings’ upcoming season and for tickets to look play their house video games at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
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