The Connecticut Sun and the Atlanta Dream announced a trade today between the two organizations, where the Sun acquired Layshia Clarendon and a second-round pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft from the Dream in exchange for Alex Bentley.
Connecticut Sun General Manager and head coach Curt Miller spoke on the trade in obtaining Clarendon.
“We are excited about obtaining Layshia. She’s a talented and savvy guard with a great reputation as a leader on and off the court. She was thrilled when we spoke, and can’t wait to arrive in Connecticut.”
Clarendon is a six-year veteran in the league and has played in 18 games so far this season for the Dream with four starts. Bentley was originally selected by the Dream in the 2013 WNBA Draft and then traded to Connecticut in 2014. Similarly, she also a six-year pro, she has played in 19 games for the Sun this season and is averaging 10 points per contest.
Although, this trade isn’t seeming as innocent as just a simple trade. Information from WNBAinsidr.com reports that there was a “physical altercation” recently involving Bentley and another Connecticut Sun player, starting guard Courtney Williams.
Williams, in fact, did not travel on the team’s most recent trip to the West Coast, and multiple sources confirmed that the altercation occurred after a home Sun game on June 27th and before tipoff against the Storm on July 1st.
The nature and location of the altercation are unknown, and both the Connecticut Sun and Williams’s agent declined requests to comment. Williams has been listed as out for “personal reasons” during the entirety of the Sun’s road trip.
The Atlanta Dream also spoke on the trade and their thoughts about Bentley.
“Having had the opportunity to coach Alex Bentley in Connecticut for two seasons, I know she can be a dynamic scorer, but more importantly, she can create opportunities for her teammates because of her speed and skill with the basketball,” Atlanta Head Coach Nicki Collen said. “I also consider Alex one of the premier on-ball defenders in the WNBA which will only strengthen our team defense. I am very excited to welcome Alex back to Atlanta where her WNBA career started.”
Courtney Williams is still out for personal reasons as this story develops, but with the trade maybe chemistry will be back in tack for Connecticut.
