BOB'S BREAKING NEWS: Jade trade on WNBA eve
TweetBOB'S BREAKING NEWS: Our man in the US, BOB CRAVEN, has breaking news on the future of UC Canberra Capitals and Opals star Jade Melbourne, traded by Seattle Storm which, like the Phoenix Mercury, is a WNBA club with rich history for Australian players.
TODAY is just three days before the start of the WNBA season, and the Seattle Storm made a roster move involving young up and coming Aussie guard Jade Melbourne.
The Storm traded Melbourne to the Washington Mystic for a third-round pick in the 2025 draft.
The move solves some financial problems (but not all) for Seattle, and they will face some difficult personnel decisions before Monday's league-imposed deadline when teams must submit their opening day rosters.
The move likely ensures a roster spot for Storm rookie Nika Muhl, who battled Melbourne during training camp for the backup point guard spot behind veteran and perennial All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith, who the Storm signed this past off-season as a free agent.
Diggins-Smith did not play last season, taking it off after having her second child.
Melbourne's departure ends a two-year tenure with the Storm, who selected her in the third round of the 2022 draft (No. 33 out of 36 picks).
Melbourne, 21, initially stayed home and played in Australia that year, then signed with Seattle last year.
She endured a bit of a rocky rookie season, averaging 2.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 39.1% from the field and 15% on three-pointers in 29 games.
Apparently, the Storm thought Muhl, their first round pick in the most recent draft, was the better option as the backup PG, assuming she sticks with the team and isn't traded away or released.
Seattle has six protected veterans with guaranteed contracts.
They, plus last season's first-round pick Jordan Horsten and Muhl, assuming she stays, will leave the Storm up against the league salary cap.
The Storm has already announced that, due to the salary cap issue, they will only carry 11 players on their season-opening roster, one less than the maximum 12 that are allowed.
Unfortunately for the Oz connection with Phoenix Mercury, another terrific Aussie guard, Jaz Shelley today was waived from the 2024 roster. But those WNBA doors are far from closed.