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It takes about 3 hours to travel from Dallas to Los Angeles, and the flight path crosses two time zones. But it’s a journey Odyssey Sims will now make after the Dallas Wings traded the guard to the Los Angeles Sparks, according to the Associated Press.
Dallas will receive the No. 4 pick in the 2017 WNBA draft for Sims. Los Angeles also has the No. 11 pick from a trade with Dallas before the start of last season.
“Odyssey brings a lot to the table as a player,” said Penny Toler, the Sparks executive vice president, and general manager. “She is a great defender and fierce competitor that can score attacking the basket, shooting from the outside or dishing out assists to her teammates.”
After losing Kristi Toliver in free agency to the Washington Mystics, the Sparks needed a guard capable of replacing the hole in their roster.
Sims led Dallas in scoring last season while averaging 14 points in 30 of 34 starts. The Wings went 11-23 in 2016 while the Sparks won the WNBA championship for the first time since 2002.
The Sparks received the No. 4 overall pick last season after a trade with the Connecticut Sun, which also brought Chelsea Gray to Los Angeles.
As for Dallas, the Wings now have the third, fourth and 10th pick in the 2017 draft, as well as the 23rd and 26th.
Los Angeles also signed Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Jantel Lavender to contract extensions this week.
“We’ve locked up some of our key people for long-term contracts, and they are right in their primes,” said Sparks coach Brian Agler. “We are trying to get better day by day and keep this team together.”
But the WNBA might not have seen the last of the Dallas Wings dealing.
Wings general manager Greg Bibb told the Associated Press that would be “short-sighted” in not continuing to explore any other potential opportunities.
“After evaluating numerous scenarios, this deal gives us the best opportunity to achieve our goals for the upcoming season, which include a return to the playoffs and the chance to compete for a WNBA championship,” Bibb said.”