Jacy Sheldon, a noted rival of Caitlin Clark in the WNBA, was traded to the Washington Mystics just before Thursday’s trade deadline, marking the second trade in her young career. This move shifts the guard from the Connecticut Sun to the Mystics in exchange for Aaliyah Edwards and 2026 first-round swap rights.

Tensions between Sheldon and Clark flared earlier this season during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun. The rivalry reached a boiling point in the third quarter when Sheldon accidentally poked Clark in the eye. Following the incident, Sophie Cunningham of the Fever retaliated by pulling Sheldon down during a fast break, leading to ejections for Cunningham and Sheldon.

“When you are winning a game by 17 points and you doing this stupid foul, this is just disrespectful,”

Connecticut head coach Rachid Meziane stated to reporters.

“I don’t know how Jacy and Lindsay [got] rejected from the game when they did nothing.”

—Rachid Meziane, Connecticut Sun head coach

The Mystics’ decision to trade for Sheldon has been met with skepticism from fans who question the value of giving up Edwards, as well as whether Sheldon fits well with Washington’s backcourt. Some social media reactions described the trade as puzzling or unfair to the Mystics.

“Why would the Mystics add another average guard? Makes no sense,”

one fan remarked.

“We’ll see, but that was kinda a zero-sum trade for Washington,”

added another.

“Y’all crazy for this… just gave my girl away for nothing,”

a social media user expressed.

Before joining the Sun in February, Sheldon played for the Dallas Wings. This season, she averaged 7.5 points and 2.0 assists per game. Her ability to adapt to her new team and maintain performance will be closely watched as she adjusts to the Mystics’ setup.

The trade carries significance beyond just roster changes, as Sheldon and Clark’s rivalry has been one of the season’s most intense storylines. Given their history and recent on-court confrontation, how Sheldon integrates with the Mystics could reignite competitive sparks in upcoming games.