Dana Evans is on the move less than two months after she was drafted into the WNBA.
The Chicago Sky acquired the Louisville star from the Dallas Wings in exchange for Shyla Heal, a 2022 third-round draft pick and the option to swap 2022 first-round picks with the Sky. Heal was immediately waived following her trade to the Wings.
Official: Chicago Sky Acquire Dana Evans From Dallas
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) June 3, 2021
📝: https://t.co/uJD6UUwL1U pic.twitter.com/x9ZYH380XZ
Dallas selected Evans with the 13th pick in April’s WNBA Draft. Most draft pundits expected Evans, a first-team All-American, to be off the board early, so her slide to the second round was surprising and a source of motivation on draft night.
Evans appeared in all six games for the Wings but played sparingly on the guard-heavy team, averaging just four minutes per game. With the Sky, she will sit behind two-time All-Star and WNBA assists leader Courtney Vandersloot. The trade will also bring Evans, a native of Gary, Ind., closer to home.
“I’m blessed and thankful for this opportunity to play for the Chicago Sky,” Evans said in a press release Wednesday. “I’ll be closer to home and be able to learn from one of the best point guards in the league. I can’t wait to put on that jersey!”
Heal went eighth overall in the 2021 draft to the Sky. In roughly 30 minutes of playing time in her four games with Chicago, the 19-year-old averaged two points per game. Heal missed the team’s preseason after being held up in her home country of Australia with visa delays. Along with Heal, the Sky also waived rookie Stephanie Watts, the 10th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Wednesday’s trade comes after a five-game losing streak for the Chicago Sky. The team will look to end that drought against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night.