Mystics trade Bria Hartley, Kia Vaughn for #6 pick in three-team trade with Liberty, Storm

The Mystics announced on Monday afternoon that they have traded Bria Hartley and Kia Vaughn in a three team trade with the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty.

In return, Washington will receive the #6 pick in the 2017 draft from the Seattle Storm, and they will swap second round picks with Seattle as well. The Liberty will also send center Carolyn Swords to the Seattle Storm as part of the deal.

Here’s what Mystics coach and general manager Mike Thibault had to say about the trade:

Kia Vaughn has meant a lot to the rebirth of the Mystics organization the past four years,. Getting Kia was one of our first priorities when I came to Washington. She helped set the proper tone for how our players should conduct themselves as good pros. Her contributions to this team have been tremendous both on and off the court. However, as we try to move forward, there are always moves that need to be made in order to prepare for the next steps in our development. Fortunately for her, she is going to a team where she will be a perfect fit. We wish her well and thank her for all she has done here in Washington.

Bria Hartley will have a new opportunity to establish herself in New York. Our guard situation is becoming crowded and this trade will give her a chance to prove herself as a productive player.

Hartley and Vaughn are both New York natives who will likely thrive under head coach Bill Laimbeer. Trading Hartley also frees up playing time in the Mystics’ crowded backcourt, and while the WNBA doesn’t make individual player salaries public, it’s possible that moving Vaughn was necessary for the Mystics to clear the cap room to make a trade for Elena Delle Donne possible.