Angel Reese Had Four Words After Big WNBA Trade on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With two days left before the WNBA trade deadline, the Seattle Storm made a big move by acquiring guard Brittney Sykes in a trade with the Washington Mystics.
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The move sparked plenty of reactions around the league, including one from Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, who was Sykes’ teammate in Unrivaled this year.
Angel Reese Reacts to Brittney Sykes Trade
A ninth-year veteran, Sykes is averaging 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game this season.
In July, she earned her first All-Star selection as one of two replacement players for injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally.
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That was not the only highlight of Sykes’ year. She also helped lead Rose BC to the inaugural Unrivaled championship, playing alongside Reese.
Now on different WNBA teams, Reese left no doubt she supports her former teammate after the trade to the Storm.
“so happy for you,” she wrote in a comment to Sykes on a joint Instagram post announcing the trade.
It was very similar to the message Reese had for DiJonai Carrington after she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, when she told Carrington, “happy for you.”
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The situation is not so exciting for Reese in Chicago right now. She has been ruled out of Tuesday night’s game against the Mystics, marking the third straight game she will miss due to a back injury.
The Sky enter the game on an eight-game losing streak, with a 7-21 record overall this season. Reese has done her part, averaging 14.2 points and 12.6 rebounds while playing a team-high 31.7 minutes per game.
Brittney Sykes (20) celebrates after winning the Unrivaled Championship game.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Seattle Storm Make Brittney Sykes Trade
Below are the details of the trade between the Storm and the Mystics.
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Seattle Storm receive:
Washington Mystics receive:
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2026 first-round draft pick
Cooke and forward Sika Kone were waived by the Mystics to complete the deal.
Who Won the Brittney Sykes Trade?
Seattle and Washington have different priorities at the WNBA trade deadline.
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Storm want to win now. Sykes is having a career year, and Seattle needed to improve its ninth-ranked scoring offense (81.3 points per game) for it to have a chance at its first WNBA title since 2020. The 31-year-old will be a free agent after the season, and they gave up one of their three 2026 first-round picks to get her.
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Mystics are building for the future. Washington is still in the hunt for a playoff spot this season (13-15, ninth-best record in the WNBA), but the future is looking brighter. They have three first-round picks in the 2026 draft, one year after drafting two possible 2025 Rookie of the Year candidates, guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen.
Sykes should give the Storm an immediate scoring boost next to All-Star guard Skylar Diggins. Sykes is also an elite defender with four WNBA All-Defense selections to her name. The trade adds to Seattle’s impressive mix of talent and experience, but it is hard to say if it has enough to overcome the Lynx or the New York Liberty as title favorites.
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The Storm will be judged at the end of the season, but the Mystics already see this trade as a long-term win as they stockpile assets for the future. At 37, Clark is a downgrade from Sykes, but she will provide a critical veteran presence as one of two players with more than three years of experience on the youthful roster.
As Sykes lands in Seattle, it is clear Reese is looking forward to seeing her old teammate chase a ring in green again this year.
Related: Angel Reese Had Three Words After Big WNBA Trade on Sunday
Related: Indiana Fever Trade Deadline: 3 Players Who Could Help Caitlin Clark Win a WNBA Title
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
