Chicago trades Shyla Heal to Dallas for Dana Evans

Thirty-one minutes into her rookie year with the Chicago Sky, 2021 first-round pick Shyla Heal has been traded to the Dallas Wings for Dana Evans. 

Richard Cohen of WNBAalien.com first reported the deal, which includes a 2022 third-round pick going to Dallas along with the rights to swap 2022 first-round picks in the event the Sky draw a higher pick than the Wings.

After averaging 25.3 PPG and 7.3 APG in the WNBL last season, Heal was drafted with the eighth overall pick this year. Chicago’s plan from the onset was to find a guard in this draft class who could provide much-needed depth behind All-WNBA point guard Courtney Vandersloot. 

“We are very excited to have Shyla coming to Chicago,” said the Sky’s General Manager and Head Coach James Wade in a press release on draft night. “We’ve been watching her for quite some time to see how she matured since the time she first became a professional basketball player. And now that she’s only the young age of 19 we think that the future’s bright for her.”

Due to complications with her visa application, Heal missed all of training camp and both of Chicago’s preseason games. She had one practice with the team before she made her season debut on May 23. She played four games and averaged 2.0 PPG, 0.8 APG, and 2.5 turnovers per game. Heal didn’t play in the team’s most recent game against the Phoenix Mercury on June 1. 

The Sky have been without veterans Candace Parker, Allie Quigley and Stef Dolson since the season opener on May 15. Currently in the middle of a five-game losing streak, Chicago will turn to veteran Lexie Brown to lead the second unit. Howard Megdal of The Next reported Brown will be with the team the rest of the season. 

Multiple league sources tell @TheNextHoops that Lexie Brown isn't going anywhere. Back to play for @chicagosky by 6/13, just a temporary casualty, then returning on a rest-of-season deal. #WNBA

— Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) June 2, 2021

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As for Evans, the Sky initially passed on the 5’6” Louisville guard in this year’s draft in favor of Heal. She eventually landed in Dallas as the 13th overall pick. She has played 24 minutes so far and averaged 0.8 PPG and 0.5 APG in limited action.