The Connecticut Sun traded Rebecca Allen to the Phoenix Mercury in a sign-and-trade deal in exchange for Moriah Jefferson, both teams officially announced today.
Allen was a key piece for the Connecticut Sun last season after she was moved in the mega-trade that sent Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty. After Brionna Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury after just 13 games, Allen slotted into the starting five and held that spot for the rest of the year. Sun head coach Stephanie White referred to her as a sixth starter that the team could rely on.
With Connecticut, the eight-year veteran averaged 6.4 points per game (PPG), 2.8 rebounds per game (RPG), and 1.3 blocks per game (BPG) while shooting 34.8 percent from three throughout the regular season. In the playoffs, Allen put up 9.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and shot 42.3 percent from three before the Sun were eliminated by the Liberty in the semi-finals. She provides shooting and spacing, with the ability to defend at a high level with her length.
Jefferson, the seven-year veteran out of the University of Connecticut, comes to the Sun after averaging 10.5 PPG, 3.6 APG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.1 steals per game (SPG) in Phoenix last season. She started in 36 of her 39 games played in 2023 for the Mercury, averaging 24.9 minutes per game (MPG).
In her WNBA career, she has played three seasons with the San Antonio Stars/Las Vegas Aces, two seasons with the Dallas Wings and one season with the Minnesota Lynx. She earned All-Rookie honors in 2016 with San Antonio. Now, she brings a veteran guard presence to the Sun who dealt their starting point guard Natisha Hiedeman to Minnesota for Tiffany Mitchell and the No. 19 pick in the 2024 draft.
“We are excited to add Moriah to our team,” Sun Head Coach Stephanie White said in a news release. “She gives us an experienced guard that can impact the game on both ends with her speed, quickness and playmaking ability.”
