Liberty get Howard, Samuelson to Storm, first pick to Dallas

NEW YORK — In a flurry of WNBA trades, the New York Liberty acquired All-Star Natasha Howard while the No. 1 pick in this year’s upcoming draft ended up in Dallas.

The Liberty acquired Howard as part of a threeteam deal with the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday. The three-time WNBA champion provides a solid interior player for New York to pair with last season’s No. 1 draft pick, Sabrina Ionescu. As a designated core player for Seattle, Howard had to approve the trade to New York.

New York sent the No. 1 pick in the draft this year and the Mercury’s firstround pick next year to the Storm. The Liberty acquired that pick from Phoenix by sending Kia Nurse and Megan Walker to the Mercury for the sixth pick this year and their firstround choice next year.

The No. 1 pick didn’t stay in Seattle long as the Storm traded it to Dallas for Katie Lou Samuelson and the Wings’ second-round pick in 2022. The Wings become the first team in WNBA history to hold the first and second overall picks in the same draft. In addition, Dallas also holds the fifth, seventh and 13th selections in 2021.

“The opportunity to acquire the top pick in a draft does not present itself very often,” Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb said. “By securing this pick, we will ensure our ability to draft the player at the top of our draft list while having additional draft assets at our disposal to further improve our team.”

It’s only the third time in the league’s history that the top pick in the draft has been traded. It moved in 2010 when Minnesota sent it to Connecticut as part of a deal for hometown star Lindsay Whalen.

The No. 1 selection was also traded on draft night in 2007 by Phoenix to Minnesota.

There is a lot of uncertainty around this season’s draft over who will be available to be picked. The NCAA granted every player an extra year of eligibility, meaning top seniors like Dana Evans of Louisville and Michaela Onyenwere of UCLA could return to college next year.

Also on Wednesday, in a separate trade with Seattle, the Liberty got guard Sami Whitcomb for the rights to Stephanie Talbot.

Chris O'Meara / Associated Press Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner, left, knocks the ball away from Dallas Wings guard Katie Lou Samuelson during a WNBA game last year in Bradenton, Fla.