The Washington Mystics and the Indiana Fever agreed on a trade to send second-year center Queen Egbo to Washington and Amanda Zahui B. to Indiana.
Egbo will see game action right away due to the strained hip of Shakira Austin. She is expected to be out for three weeks. Also, Elena Delle Donne is out with a sprained ankle.
Egbo is averaging 2.9 points, 4.0 rebounds per game so far this season. The Mystics are getting a young post player who can rebound and defend. Egbo can hold down the fort until Austin and Delle Donne return.
“This trade was an opportunity to acquire a young post talent that can complement our other post players,” Mystics general manager Mike Thibault said in a statement. “In light of our injury situation, this trade becomes even more important. Queen is an elite rebounder, one of our biggest weaknesses, and she has been a good shot-blocker and defender in her time at Indiana.”
Zahui B. is averaging 2.0 points per game in 12 games this season. Heading to Indiana is a good move because she can play the four and the five positions. Zahui B. is a capable 3-point shooter that could allow spacing, and she could play next to Aliyah Boston.
When the Fever tried to play Boston in Egbo together, it clogged the lane up. With Zahui B. on the Fever won’t have that problem.
“Amanda’s versatility and ability to play the 4 and the 5 spots make her a great addition for the Indiana Fever,” General Manager Lin Dunn said.
Zahui B. struggled to crack into the rotation in Washington; she should see quality minutes in Indiana.
This trade will benefit both teams. The Mystics get a strong post player that can rebound and be elite on the defensive end. The Fever gets versatility on the front line and a player that could space the floor. Egbo and Zahui B. will be headed to teams they fit well on, and we should expect better play from both players.
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