There is no end to the Connecticut Sun’s suffering this season. The league’s worst-ranked team is going through a tough phase that it would soon want to forget. With just four wins and a league-high 21 losses in the 2025 season, the Sun are eager to make a roster update.
As the trade deadline approaches on August 7, the team is reportedly making the best use of the talent pool available for trade currently. A recent trade proposal landed the Storm’s Alysha Clark at the camp, but is that the only answer to Seattle’s salary crunch?
Analyst Proposes Alysha Clark For Connecticut Sun Trade
As for how they are navigating their performance in the last 10 games, with 8 Ls and a mere 2 Ws, the Sun do need a shakeup. According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, Clark could be a game-changer trade for the team. And this makes sense from both ends.
The Storm, strapped for cash with just $223 in cap space according to Her Hoop Stats, is sending Clark’s $185,000 salary. The package includes an injured forward, Katie Lou Samuelson, and a 2026 first-round pick, to the Sun. In return, they’re getting a scoring talent in guard Marina Mabrey, who could shake things up for Seattle.
𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, @Alysha_Clark! pic.twitter.com/QVRxEtsezw
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) June 21, 2025
But this deal could not be a plain and simple trade-off. The Storm are in a tricky spot as they sit fifth in the league with a 16-11 record. They’ve got a powerhouse trio in Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Gabby Williams, pushing for a playoff run. At the same time, they’re building for the future with young star Dominique Malonga and three 2026 draft picks from a previous Jewell Loyd trade.
But to grab Mabrey, a 28-year-old averaging 14.7 points per game, they need to free up salary. Mabrey, who asked for a trade from Connecticut last year, is nearing free agency. She is expected to thrive in Seattle, likely boosting her shooting with a contender’s supporting cast.
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How Does This Trade Make Sense For Connecticut Sun
For the Sun, bringing in Clark is a big win. At 38, she’s a veteran with a handful of serious credentials. She was named the 2023 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year and a two-time All-Defensive Team pick. She won championships with Seattle in 2018 and 2020, then again with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
Even though she’s been playing under 13 minutes a game lately for the Storm, her experience and defensive skills are top-notch. The Sun, who are struggling at the bottom of the points tally, might work out a buyout to let Clark join another playoff team. But her presence, along with Samuelson and the draft pick, gives their rebuild a nice boost.