7 Biggest WNBA Trades of All-Time

by Spencer Toth - 9/25/2026

Biggest WNBA trades of all time Jonquel Jones New York Liberty

The pieces needed to win a WNBA championship are put into place long before Game 7 tips off, as most championship-caliber teams are constructed through trades, free agency, and the draft. Over nearly three decades, there have been hundreds of trades across the league, but only a few have dramatically altered the trajectory of the respective franchises. Whether it was a star leaving in their prime, a prospect arriving, or a little bit of both, these are the 7 biggest WNBA trades of all time.

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#1 Sylvia Fowles to Minnesota Lynx, 2015

Sylvia Fowles going to Minnesota is the biggest trade in the history of the WNBA, and it isn’t even close. Fowles spent the first seven years of her career in Chicago, earning two Defensive Player of the Year awards but making it out of the first round only once in that span. She averaged 15.7 PPG with 9.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, making her the cornerstone of the franchise. However, she did not want to sign a contract extension with the Sky, and went as far as to sit out the start of the 2015 season while waiting to be traded.

Fowles got what she wanted, and was traded to her preferred destination, Minnesota, in a three-team deal. Chicago got a measly return with veteran center Erika de Souza coming to town, who only played two years before retiring. Fowles took away all of Chicago’s leverage, which allowed Atlanta to receive more assets with a first-round pick, Damiris Dantas, and Reshanda Gray going to the Dream. Minnesota was already a strong contender with Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus leading the team, and they now had the interior presence they needed with Fowles on the roster.

Fowles made an immediate impact for the Lynx, bringing Minnesota a championship in 2015 before adding another in 2017. She ended her career as an eight-time All-Star with four Defensive Player of the Year awards, and won Finals MVP to go along with her second championship. On the stat sheet, she had a career shooting percentage of 59.9% with 9.8 rebounds, both of which still stand as WNBA records. The Sky would eventually win the championship in 2021, but this trade took them out of contention while vaulting Minnesota to the top.

#2 Elena Delle Donne to Washington Mystics, 2017

Elena Delle Donne played alongside Fowles in Chicago and was traded to the Washington Mystics nearly two years after that deal. There are some players that are unguardable, and Delle Donne was exactly that in the early stages of her career. She put up a league-high 23.4 PPG in 2015, and was an elite scorer from all over the floor. Her 6-foot-5 frame allowed her to score down low, but she also wasn’t afraid to pull up in the midrange. What made her so hard to guard was her ability to knock down free throws, 93.7% across her ten-year career, which meant any foul often led to two points.

In 2017, Delle Donne was 27 and entering her prime when she was traded to Washington for two players, including Kahleah Cooper, and the second overall pick. The Mystics didn’t have to give up either of their top two scorers to acquire Delle Donne, and instantly turned them into contenders. Washington reached the 2018 WNBA Finals, but lost, before winning the championship in 2019. Delle Donne was a big part of their success, and became the first player to ever post a 50/40/90 season with 51/43/97 splits. She also won the 2019 WNBA MVP, becoming the first player to win MVP awards with two different franchises after she got her first in 2015 with Chicago. It was a steep price to pay for Washington, but they ultimately tasted tangible glory with Delle Donne on the roster. Chicago also won the championship in 2021 with Cooper winning Finals MVP, making this one of the truly rare win-win trades involving star players.

#3 Cappie Pondexter to New York Liberty, Candice Dupree to Phoenix Mercury

This trade rounds out the podium as it didn’t involve just one star player, but two. This trade came as a huge shock, as Cappie Pondexter and the Mercury were just coming off two championships in the last three years, and Pondexter was a big part of those runs with her 2007 Finals MVP award. It appeared as though the Mercury were firing on all cylinders, but management decided it was time for a change. Pondexter was sent to New York, and Candice Dupree came to Phoenix from Chicago in a three-team deal.

Candice Dupree had a strong four years in Chicago to start her career, making an impact on both ends of the court. Her 16 PPG wasn’t eye-popping, but her ability to score with strong efficiency thanks to her high IQ made her an impactful player on the court. She made an instant impact in Phoenix, leading the league with a stunning 66.4% clip from the floor. Her arrival allowed Phoenix to extend their championship window, as they added another championship with Dupree in 2014. Pondexter continued to thrive with the Liberty making four more All-Star teams, but didn’t win another championship. This was a high-profile trade involving multiple stars at the time, and it only grew in relevance as the years ticked by.

#4 Jonquel Jones to New York Liberty, 2023

Jonquel Jones spent the first six seasons of her career in Connecticut, leading the league in rebounds on three occasions, winning the 2021 WNBA MVP, and leading her team to the WNBA Finals in 2022. However, her time in Connecticut quickly came to a close when she requested a trade to New York with one year left in her contract. While the Sun didn’t want to trade Jones, it was clear she would leave for free the following year, so they cut their losses and got assets back. Jones was traded to New York in a three-team deal with the Dallas Wings, which sent Rebecca Allen, Tyasha Harris, and the 6th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft to Connecticut.

The Liberty instantly vaulted into title contention, losing in the WNBA Finals in 2023 before winning the championship with Jones claiming Finals MVP in 2024. Jones was the driving force behind their success, dominating on both ends of the floor. She set the WNBA record with eight straight playoff double doubles during the 2023 run. Meanwhile, the Sun dropped to the bottom of the standings, and have struggled to emerge from a three-year rebuild after trading their star.

#5 Katie Smith to Detroit Shock, 2005

Katie Smith joined the WNBA during the league’s third season in 1999, and immediately made an impact. She led the league in PPG at 23.1 in 2001, and was a truly elite scorer from all three levels. However, Minnesota failed to build a team around her, making the playoffs just once in seven years, and ultimately decided to trade her to Detroit in 2005. Minnesota sent Smith and a second round pick to Detroit for a first-rounder, Chandi Jones, and Stacey Thomas.

Detroit no longer has a WNBA franchise, although that will change in 2029, but they were one of the league powerhouses two decades ago. They won the 2003 WNBA Finals, but then got bounced in the first round the following year. Head coach Bill Laimbeer decided it was time for a change, and it was him that got Smith to Detroit. Smith endured a second-straight first-round exit in her first season with the Shock, but then led the team to three straight Finals appearances, winning two and claiming Finals MVP in 2008. This trade was one of the first blockbuster trades in the league’s history, and Smith’s arrival in Detroit ignited an early dynasty in the league.

#6 Tina Charles to New York Liberty, 2014

Tina Charles was on a superstardom trajectory during her first four years with the Connecticut Sun. She won Rookie of the Year in 2010, WNBA MVP in 2012, and led the league in rebounds during each of her first three seasons. To top it off she was scoring the basketball too, averaging between 15.5 and 18.0 PPG during her time with the Sun. However, the good times in Connecticut came to an end when she forced her way out to go to her hometown Liberty.

Charles was traded for Kelsey Bone, the 4th overall 2014 pick, and a future first-rounder. The Liberty made good on the move as Charles played six excellent seasons before bouncing around the league in the tail end of her career. She had her best season in 2016, leading the league on PPG (21.5) and rebounds (9.9), while posting a career high 3.5 assists. Anytime an MVP gets traded, it is big news, and Charles’ move sent shockwaves through the league.

#7 Becky Hammon to San Antonio Silver Stars, 2007

In the modern day, Becky Hammon is known for being a trailblazer for women coaching in the NBA, and is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. However, she got started as a player, and was a part of one of the biggest WNBA trades in league history. Hammon was drafted to the New York Liberty in 1999, and spent the first eight years of her career in the Big Apple. She was a consistent scorer on the outside, and was named to three All-Star teams, but her career really took off when she was traded to San Antonio.

Hammon was traded for the second overall pick and a future first rounder, and made an instant impact with the Silver Stars. She led the league in assists during her first year with the franchise, and scored a career high 19.5 PPG in 2009. She never tasted championship glory, but ended her career on a high note by going a perfect 35-for-35 from the line in her final season, a record that still stands today.

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Start:	September 26, 2026 @ 3:30 PM
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7 Biggest WNBA Trades of All-Time

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