WNBA Heaven is a New Place on Earth

For a handful of WNBA players, WNBA heaven is a new place on earth. These players were either waived, traded, or their contracts expired landing them all in much better places, teams, and situations. Let’s explore each of them.

The biggest move is the Chicago Sky trading Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut (CT) Sun for Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, and a future draft pick. Mabrey is a great outside shooter, a veteran, tough, durable, and she wants to win. She averages 14 ppg, 5 rebs, and 4 assists. She left an 11-16 Sky team for a 20-7 Sun team. Reportedly, Marina asked Chicago for the trade before the Olympic break and the trade deadline. So far, Mabrey has fit in nicely with the Sun. Her outside shooting presence opens up the paint even more for Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones. Opponents must guard her from the perimeter, otherwise she will feast from distance. There aren’t many shots that she doesn’t like. She is effective without the ball in her hands. She is a team-oriented former Notre Dame (ND) guard compared to ball-dominant ND guards like Skylar Diggins-Smith, Arike Ogunbowale, or Jewell Loyd. For Marina Mabrey, WNBA heaven is being an impactful player for the championship-focused CT Sun.

Myisha Hines-Allen was traded from the Washington (WAS) Mystics to the Minnesota (MN) Lynx following the Olympic break. MN sent two bench players to WAS, Sika Kone and Olivia Epoupa. The Mystics were in last place with a 6-22 record. They were crippled with injuries to start the season, along with Elena Della Donne choosing to sit out this year. MN is vying for the championship with a 20-8 record. Myisha is a strong, powerful player averaging 8 pts, 5 rebs, and 3 assists off the bench. She is an important piece for the Lynx providing size, strength, and physicality on the court, as well as rest for the interior starters. For Myisha Hines-Allen, WNBA heaven is being on the championship-focused MN Lynx contributing 20-minutes off the bench.

Gabby Williams, yes, from France’s silver-medal National Team signed a rest-of-year contract with the Seattle (SEA) Storm. Gabby is probably the only player from France’s team, who could have remotely made the USA’s Women’s Team. She sat out of the WNBA last year. Or rather, was suspended over a contract provision involving playing or not playing overseas. One that this Muse doesn’t understand or know the details. Nevertheless, having Gabby Williams healthy and back playing in the WNBA is welcoming for fans and a huge boost for the Storm. During 2023 Williams averaged 8 pts, 4 rebs, and 4 assists. Gabby is an uber-athletic defender and rebounder with improved ball-handling and shooting skills. Depending upon the opponent match-ups, she may start or come off of the Storm bench. For Gabby Williams, WNBA heaven is being part of a strong, championship-focused SEA Storm team with last year’s suspension behind her.

Monique Billings has been everywhere. After playing 6 years for the Atlanta Dream, this 2024 season alone she has played for the Los Angeles (LA) Sparks, Phoenix (PHX) Mercury, Dallas (DAL) Wings, and back with the PHX Mercury. Monique is tall and powerful with great inside play. This year she is averaging 9 pts, 7 rebs, and 2 assists. For awhile, she was starting for the Mercury and Wings. Of these many stops, the PHX Mercury have the best team and record of 15-14. The Wings were in last place with a 6-21 record. At PHX, Monique will come off the bench providing 20+ minutes of interior play and relief for Brittney Griner. She is on her first Mercury seven-day contract and may be on the move again. For the moment, Monique Billings’ WNBA heaven is being part of a team with a winning record.

Both Odyssey Sims and Celeste Taylor have hopscotched across the WNBA this season with too-many to count teams and seven-day contracts. I have to look up their current teams. In fact the CT Sun released Celeste Taylor today. Odyssey Sims is with the LA Sparks as of last week. She averages 14 pts and 5 assists in 2024. Odyssey has ping ponged between the LA Sparks and DAL Wings this season, both teams 6-21 or so. In the last Sparks national TV game, Odyssey’s name wasn’t embroidered on her jersey yet. Heaven for Odyssey Sims may be returning to DAL, where she played in 2023 and collegiately at Baylor located in Texas. Teams with that much losing aren’t necessarily fun. But Odyssey is tough, athletic, defensive-minded, and appears to be a good teammate. Celeste Taylor was in WNBA heaven with the title contending CT Sun, until today. This year’s travels also included the Indiana Fever and PHX Mercury. I’ll watch the WNBA app’s Transaction tab to see where she lands next. Celeste is a rookie from Ohio State this year.