Mystics Trade Brittney Sykes to Storm: Impact on 2025 WNBA Championship Betting Odds

Another WNBA trade strikes again!  Tuesday afternoon, the Washington Mystics traded veteran guard Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Alysha Clark, Zia Cooke, and a 2026 first-round pick. With the move, the Mystics subsequently waived Cooke and Sika Koné.

(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Sykes, 31, spent just under three seasons with the Mystics and was originally drafted No. 7 overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream.  Selected from Syracuse University, Sykes also had a three-year stint with the Los Angeles Sparks. In her ninth WNBA season, "Slim" has averaged a career 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. In 265 career regular-season games, Sykes is a 30.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc and 41.2 percent from the field.

Clark, 38, returned to the Storm last off-season after spending the first nine seasons with Seattle. A three-time WNBA Champion with the Storm and Las Vegas Aces, Clark has a career average of 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. In fact, she's shot a career 48.1 percent from the field, and 37.8 percent from three through 408 regular-season games.  Having played 300 games with the Storm over her career, Clark is on the move.

Let's take a look at the 2025 WNBA Championship betting odds, and how the blockbuster trade shifts the odds for both the Mystics and Storm.

FanDuel 2025 WNBA Championship Betting Odds

Seattle Storm WNBA Championship Betting Odds

Odds before the trade: +2300
Odds after the trade: -1800

Prior to acquiring Brittney Sykes, the Storm had the seventh best odds to win the WNBA Championship at +2300 odds (23/1) just a few days ago in my prior DiJonai Carrington trade piece. Since the trade, the Storms odds to win the 2026 WNBA Title have surged to +1800. They move up in the rankings, predicted as the sixth best team to win this year. Still, that puts Seattle in back of the Liberty, Lynx, Mercury, Fever, and Dream.

With 16-14 record this season, the Seattle Storm's record hasn't exactly matched the talent on paper. Led by head coach Noelle Quinn, we are talking about a Storm team that includes Nneka Oguwmike, Skylar Diggins, Ezi Magbegor, and rookie Dominique Malonga, just to name a few. Five years removed from their fourth WNBA Championship in WNBA history, this team has hardly resembled a title team. Showing flashes of brilliance at times, this is a Storm team that's won games through defense. However, they've struggled on the offensive end, plummeting to ninth in offensive rating.

Brittney Sykes Is An Instant Upgrade On Both Ends Of The Court, Boosts Storm's Betting Odds

The trade is a win-win for both sides, considering Sykes moves to a contender, and is set to become a free agent in 2026. It gives Seattle a nice half a season rental, and a boost for their playoff hopes. Let's be real, the Seattle Storm are the second best defensive team for a reason. Led by a dynamic frontcourt, along Gabby Williams, Sykes should add an instant boost to Diggins in the backcourt. Named a first-time WNBA All-Star this year in Indianapolis, the Storm get a versatile guard, who brings defensive prowess, and the ability to attack downhill.

Sure, the Storm part ways with a future first-round pick, however, they replace Clark, who averaged nearly a career-low with 3.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. Named Sixth Player of the Year with the Aces in 2023, Clark took less money to sign with the Storm.Not only that, her playing time diminished to just 18 minutes in 27 games. Although Clark is known for her corner 3-pointers, veteran leadership, and tough defense, that truly never translated in Noelle Quinns system. That's no disrespect to Clark, she got lost in the rotation after moved from the starting five to the bench.

Seattle Storm Are Headed Towards A Defense First Approach After Acquiring Sykes

Now the Storm add Sykes, who's a two-time All-Defensive First Team. They say defense wins championships, right? Gabby Williams just made a Storm record with 75 steals in a season. Sykes was formerly the WNBA's steals leader in 2021 and 2022. There was a reason why Sykes replaced Caitlin Clark in the 2025 WNBA All-Star game. Notorious as a relentless perimeter defender, Slim a natural born scorer. In 25 games with the Mystics, her 15.9 points per game is the most since the 2023 season, and second-highest of her career.

Overall, Brittney Sykes brings a dynamic scoring option to the Storm, and is expected to immediately bolster this team on both ends of the floor. With the 2025 WNBA season 3/4 over, the Storm have the sixth hardest remaining schedule. Sykes will be a critical addition, especially given the Storm are to face both the Indiana Fever and New York Liberty a few more times. Plus, they get the Lynx, Mercury, and Aces in the back half off the season.

The Storm continue to build into a defense first team under Noelle Quinn, and they are going all in with Sykes. While the Liberty and Lynx are the heavy favorites to win the 2025 WNBA Title, the betting odds have shifted significantly. The books see the Storm as a rising contender, and they've been my dark horse team all along.

WNBA Seattle Storm Championship Betting Odds Prediction

I love the additional of Brittney Sykes, who has incredible vertical reach, and will fit in nicely with backcourt mates Skylar Diggins and Erica Wheeler. Even at 31, I do believe Sykes is well worth the first-round pick, and becomes an instant upgrade over Clark.  Does this move the needle entirely? No. I still have concerns about the Storm's offense. Over the last 10 games, this is a Seattle Storm team who ranks No. 11 in offensive rating. Averaging just 79.9 points over that span, the Storm rank second to last in 3-point percentage (30.3 %). Although Sykes will produce most of her offense attacking the basket, she is shooting nearly 32 percent from beyond the arc this season.

If anything, I wouldn't want to run into this team from a defensive standpoint. Especially as rookie Dominique Malonga continues to develop. Wth a mix of veterans and rookies, now is the time for Seattle to make a run. While I believe they can make a deep run, I still have the Liberty and Lynx as top contenders.

Washington Mystics WNBA Championship Betting Odds

Odds before the trade: +24000
Odds after the trade: +47000

With a 13-16 record under head coach Sydney Johnson, the Washington Mystics have been the surprise team of the 2025 season, next to the Golden State Valkyries. This is a team that's in clear rebuild mode, and drafted Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, and Sonia Citron in the first-round of the 2025 WNBA Draft. Sure, their betting odds plummeted, going from +24000 odds to +47000 odds after the trade. However, this is a team that's still in the playoff hunt, and continues to build for the future simultaneously.

The Mystics are 4-6 in their last ten games, and are a middle of the road defensively. Despite producing Citron and Iriafen named as first time All-Stars, this team is young, and the franchise is well aware of that. The core of this team remains both Citron, Iriafen, but also Shakira Austin, who's proved she's a main staple when healthy. Plus, Amoore hasn't touched the court yet due to a ACL tear which ended her rookie season before it started.

The Mystics WNBA Championship Betting Odds Plummet

This is a brilliant move for the Mystics, who continue to stockpile assets for the future. Not only did the Mystics hold three picks in the 2025 Draft, they have an additional three first-round picks in the 2026 draft! 2026 is a crucial year for the Mystics, especially since they own two second-round picks and one third-round pick. With the addition of Clark, not only do the Mystics get a veteran presence, they get a reliable 3-point shooter, defender, and champion. Perhaps Clark will see more time on the court with the Mystics.

Given their strength of schedule and current trajectory, this was a solid move for the Mystics. Set to face Liberty, Lynx, Fever, Storm, Mercury, and Aces, the task is tall for Washington. Plus, could another trade be in place? Just a few months ago the Mystics announced they would attempt to trade former UConn standout, Aaliyah Edwards.

WNBA Washington Mystics Championship Betting Odds Prediction

The Washington Mystics aren't expected make a championship run this season. However, future betting odds should shift since the Mystics knocked last year's draft out of the park. Given the strength of schedule and current landscape, I additionally have the Mystics missing the playoffs entirely. Defeated by an Angel Reese-less Chicago Sky, 78-64 last night, Sykes leaves a huge void on both ends of the court. Keeping their young core in tact, the future is bright for the Washington Mystics.

The 2026 WNBA Draft class will include high profiled names such as Lauren Betts, Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles, Ta'Niya Latson, and Flau'jae Johnson, just to name a few.  From a betting perspective, I'm excited for the future of the Washington Mystics.