ESPN Proposes Major Indiana Fever Trade That Would Benefit Caitlin Clark

The second half of the 2024 WNBA season is right around the corner, with teams set to hit the floor this week following the league-mandated hiatus for the Olympics.

Before the season resumes, ESPN writer Kevin Pelton shared a few potential trades that could bolster a few lineups. The Indiana Fever were one of the teams included, with Pelton adding a trade that would benefit rookie Caitlin Clark.

The projected trade on ESPN includes the Fever sending Katie Lou Samuelson, NaLyssa Smith and a 2026 first-round pick to the Washington Mystics.

In exchange, the Fever would receive Brittney Sykes, Myisha Hines-Allen, and a 2026 second-round pick from the Washington Mystics.

While Samuelson and Smith have been solid contributors for Indiana during the 2024 season, Sykes and Hines-Allen would be able to add a different dimension for Indiana.

Sykes is one of the league's best perimeter defenders, averaging 1.3 steals throughout her eight-year WNBA career. She would be able to take pressure off of Clark on the defensive end while also bringing a veteran presence, having been in the league since 2017.

The 5-foot-9 guard is also a threat in the scoring realm, giving Clark a chance to rest, while the Fever have a two-way contributor on the floor. Sykes has averaged 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game through the 2024 WNBA season.

Her teammate and potential partner in the trade to Indiana, Myisha Hines-Allen, would be a plug-and-play for the forwards that would be traded, Samuelson and Smith.

Hines-Allen has been a consistent player on both ends of the floor for the Mystics this season. She's averaged 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while starting in nine games for Washington.

The 6-foot-1 forward would serve as a hybrid of Samuelson and Smith. During the first half of the season for the Fever, Samuelson averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, and Smith averaged 11.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Samuelson is seen as more of a three-point threat, whereas Smith has been a force in the paint. Hines-Allen brings both of those dynamics, having a phenomenal 42.4 three-point percentage and 50.3 field goal percentage.

This would be a major trade for the Fever, especially with the removal of Smith from the starting lineup, but the defensive ability from Sykes and versatility from Hines-Allen seems like it would help a player like Clark, taking weight off her shoulders.

The WNBA trade deadline is scheduled for Aug. 20, so Indiana has a few days before they commit to any major decision like the one ESPN presented.

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