The Lynx cleared room under the salary cap and on their roster Monday by officially adding free-agent wing Aerial Powers and saying goodbye to guard Odyssey Sims.
The team's roster, as a hectic WNBA free-agent period settles down, came into focus as it sent Sims, the exclusive negotiating rights to center Temi Fagbenle, and their 2022 draft picks in the first and third rounds to Indiana for a 2022 second-round pick.
The Fever put Sims, an All-Star in 2019, on waivers, and she will become a free agent if she clears.
The Lynx moves, along with last week's trade of Mikiah Herbert Harrigan to Seattle for a first-round pick, were to make room for free-agent additions Kayla McBride, Natalie Achonwa and Powers.
"We had to make a decision," said Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx coach and general manager. "Getting both Aerial and Kayla was good for the future. We certainly think we could use Odyssey as well, but the cap only gets you so far."
The Lynx clearly have come to a couple conclusions.
First, McBride and Powers, with their position flexibility, are an upgrade. Both can shoot the three, both are good at coming off pin-downs, a facet of Reeve's offense she has not been able to use in recent seasons, and both can post up smaller guards.
Second, Crystal Dangerfield's emergence as a force has solidified the team at the point.