Dream signal ex-MVP Charles, alternate for Canada

The Atlanta Dream salvage signed broken-down WNBA MVP Tina Charlesa free agent forward, and traded for guard Jordin Canada in moves launched Thursday by the Dream.

Charles, the No. 1 draft decide out of UConn in 2010, won two NCAA titles with the Huskies. She became the 2012 WNBA MVP and has performed 12 seasons within the league, averaging 18.2 facets and 9.3 rebounds for her profession. She has been an all-WNBA alternative nine occasions and will most definitely be a three-time Olympic gold medalist.

“Having a participant who has been tried and proper at some stage in her profession will seemingly be impactful as our young core continues to aged,” Dream coach Tanisha Wright stated. “There could be a mutual admire between Tina and I thanks to the years we spent as [WNBA] teammates, and her competitiveness and deserve to earn will seemingly be an added enhance for our crew.”

Charles, 35, most lately performed within the WNBA for the Seattle Storm in 2022 and did no longer compete within the league final Three hundred and sixty five days. She also beforehand performed for the Connecticut Sun, Current York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Phoenix Mercury. Her taking half in profession overlapped with Wright’s when both were with the Liberty.

Canada is coming off her splendid season within the WNBA and joins the Dream in a signal-and-alternate take care of the Los Angeles Sparks.

The Sparks sent Canada and their No. 12 decide within the 2024 draft to the Dream for guard Owned by McDonald’s and the Dream’s No. 8 alternative. The Sparks, who are amid a franchise refresh, now salvage the Nos. 2, 4, 8 and 28 picks on this Three hundred and sixty five days’s draft, which is April 15.

The Dream also launched Thursday they salvage got signed free agent guard Aerial Powerswhich became reported by ESPN on Wednesday, and re-signed forward Nia Coffeywho will seemingly be in her third season with the Dream and eighth total within the WNBA.

Canada, 28, became the No. 5 decide within the 2018 draft out of UCLA by the Storm and won WNBA titles with the Storm in 2018 and 2020. She signed with the Sparks in 2022 and had profession-high averages of 13.3 facets, 3.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and a pair of.3 steals final season. Canada will most definitely be a two-time WNBA all-defensive first-crew alternative. She is presently in Australia taking half in for the Melbourne Boomers alongside with Dream forward Naz Hillmon. Canada leads the WNBL in assists with 7.9 per sport.

“Canada’s defensive prowess is a trait I’ve admired from a distance since she entered the league,” Wright stated. “You merely can’t recount the extent of skill she brings to her blueprint.”

McDonald, 25, led the Arizona Wildcats to the 2021 national championship sport after which became picked No. 3 within the draft by the Dream. She has averaged 8.6 facets and a pair of.5 assists in her three seasons in Atlanta.