The Seattle Storm are continuing their rebuilding project.
The Storm traded Camille Little and Shekinna Stricklen to the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday for the third and 15th picks in the upcoming WNBA draft and Renee Montgomery. The Storm already have the No. 1 pick.
“As we get into the draft and look at the players coming out, we’re excited about having 1 and 3,” Seattle Storm president and general manager Alisha Valavanis said. “For us a key objective is to add youth to the roster, and this gives us an opportunity through the draft.”
Connecticut is trying to regroup from the loss of rookie of the year Chiney Ogwumike, who is sidelined for at least six months after having microfracture surgery on her right knee Thursday. The Sun still have the fourth pick in the draft, which they acquired from New York in a trade last year.
Montgomery starred at UConn before being drafted by Minnesota in 2009. She then was acquired by the Sun in a trade in 2010.
Seattle was already rebuilding the franchise. Former coach Brian Agler left to take the job at Los Angeles earlier this month. The Storm promoted Jenny Boucek to head coach last week.
“It’s painful to part ways with such great players and people who are first class in every way,” said Boucek. “But as you’re seeing our organization is committed to acquiring some picks going forward in this rebuild.
Little has played in 202 of a possible 204 games for Seattle, starting all of them. Last year, she averaged a career-high 12.9 points and helped the Storm win the WNBA title in 2010.
“Camille is a player we’ve had eyes on for quite a while,” Sun coach Anne Donovan said. “She has championship experience that will be extremely valuable as we continue to develop our young talent. She is a premier small forward in the WNBA and a stretch four we are excited to acquire.”
Stricklen was the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft by the Storm. She averaged a career-best 10.0 points in 2013 before putting up only 7.2 last season.
Montgomery averaged a career-low 6.7 points last season while coming off the bench for the Sun. She was the WNBA’s sixth person of the year in 2012.
“This is a significant move for both teams,” Connecticut Sun general manager Chris Sienko said. “Based on our immediate needs, Camille and Shekinna help fill specific roles now and in the future. Of course, to get value, you have to trade value. We wish Renee much success in the future.”
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