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WNBA Free Agency: Rachel Banham returns to Minnesota via trade to Lynx from Sun

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At this point, when the WNBA season begins, networks and websites will need to do two-hour preview shows and podcasts to fill everyone in on what all 12 teams look like at the opening tip.

The movement within the W as a result of free agency has been nothing short of seismic – and it continued the third week of free agency when the Minnesota Lynx brought one of their own back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

#BanhamBombs and all, the Connecticut Sun traded Rachel Banham to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a second-round pick.

Banham wore No. 15 with her high school alma mater Lakeville North – and will do the same donning the green and blue of the Lynx.

Her quintet of seasons in Connecticut saw Banham average just over three points per game with the Sun. She joins a Minnesota team transitioning out of its dynasty seasons of the 2010s and to a new identity with younger players – such as 2019 Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier.

The Lynx also made two other signings this past weekend.

As far as player movement is concerned – that was the main signing as free agency goes on. The other pieces of news were more expected.

The first came out of Seattle when the Storm announced that it had re-upped with veteran point guard Sue Bird, who has won three championships in Seattle green and gold.

The Storm were short-handed last season being without both Bird and 2018 regular season and Finals MVP Breanna Stewart. With both back in the fold for 2020, expect a comeback season for Seattle.

And speaking of teams that are also in the title picture… Hey Chicago Sky, are you planning on re-signing Courtney Vandersloot?

That they did with the announcement of Vandersloot’s returning to Chicago for this upcoming season. With said announcement, Skytown will rejoice as its most popular couple of #Vanderquigs will be back in the Windy City in 2020.

While free agency has associated much WNBA contender chatter with Connecticut, the Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces along with defending champion Washington Mystics and the 2018 champion Storm, the Sky came within a Dearica Hamby miracle shot of advancing to the semifinals last year. Chicago became contenders behind James Wade, last year’s Coach of the Year.

While the Sparks have received a lot of attention for being one of the older teams in the WNBA, Los Angeles made a move that looks more to the team’s future as opposed to its current.

They exercised its team option on Maria Vadeeva and she will be in the fold with the purple and gold through 2021.

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