29
Jan
Breaking News
Blockbuster Bec: Allen on the way back to Sun in trade
Rebecca Allen #9 of the Connecticut Sun pushes the ball against the New York Liberty during Game Two of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs semi-finals at Barclays Center on September 26, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Liberty won 84-77. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Australian guard Bec Allen started all 18 games she played for the Phoenix Mercury
- Australian Olympian Bec Allen traded back to Connecticut after one season
- Allen is being traded for All-Star forward and former teammate Alyssa Thomas
- Mercury making off-season moves to strength squad
Australian star guard Bec Allen, 32, is one-and-done at the Phoenix Mercury. She is headed back to Connecticut in a blockbuster trade between the Mercury and the Sun, it is being reported.
The Mercury are trading Allen, Natasha Cloud and the 2025 No.12 overall pick for five-time All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas and Ty Harris.
Allen averaged 7.4 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game in 18 games for the Mercury last season. She started all 18.
All three were better than her career averages across 216 WNBA games in her nine seasons.
She spent seven seasons at the New York Liberty before moving to the Sun in 2023. Allen played 40 games, starting 27 and averaged 6.4 points per game, 2.8 boards, an assist, a steal and 1.3 blocks per game.
The 6'2" wing is a career 36.3% three-point shooter and WNBL Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.
Alyssa Thomas is a 32-year-old 6'2" forward out of Maryland and an all-world defender. She is a six-time All WNBA Defensive First Team member, 2023 Rebound Champion, 2020 Steals Champion and a 3-time All WNBA First Team Member.
She has played all her 11 seasons at Connecticut, where she averaged 12.2 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists of 48.3% from the field.
Thomas led the Sun to six straight WNBA semi-finals and into the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022.
ESPN reports that: "Thomas was an unrestricted free agent, but the Sun cored her, meaning the only way she could leave the team was to be traded. Thomas also had to sign off on her ultimate trade destination. Because the transaction involves a sign-and-trade, the move can't be made official until Feb. 1."
The Mercury are making moves given centre Brittney Griner has signed with the Atlanta Dream in a one-year deal and WNBA superstar and US basketball legend Diana Taurasi is considering hanging up her sneakers.
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