Katie Douglas Traded To Indiana
Seven Year Veteran Heads Home; Whitmore to Connecticut
Katie Douglas is traded to the Indiana Fever in a 3-for-1 transaction involving Tamika Whitmore.
When Tom Petty wrote the song Indiana Girl, he likely wasn't alluding to two-time WNBA All Star Katie Douglas.
Yet in February, both have been attracting eyes and ears. The former dazzled audiences with his playing at Super Bowl XLII's halftime show, and the latter is the newest member of the Indiana Fever.
The deal sends Douglas back to her home state.
Douglas, a 7-year WNBA veteran guard with the Connecticut Sun and Orlando Miracle, arrives in Indiana for the 2008 season and beyond. Her 6-foot presence will fill the void created just hours earlier by the departure of guard Anna Deforge, who is headed to the Minnesota Lynx via free agency.
"I'm looking forward to coming home and playing in front of my family and friends," says Douglas, the 2001 Purdue alumni who has averaged 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game over her WNBA career. "I have the highest respect and regard for the Connecticut Sun, the players, the management, and the fans. I'm very thankful."
Douglas leaves the Sun after playing there for their five-year duration as a team following a 2003 relocation from Orlando. She has helped them to playoff appearances every season since, and back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships in 2004 and 2005. The 28-year old also earned MVP honors in the 2006 WNBA All Star Game, and has been named to the WNBA's All Defensive Team every year since '05.
“Obviously, we made this trade with mixed emotions,” says Connecticut head coach Mike Thibault. “Katie has meant a lot to our success since we’ve been here."
"Since last season...Katie made it clear that she wanted to play for her hometown team,” claims Sun general manager Chris Sienko. “She asked us to trade her only to Indiana, assuming we could make a fair trade."
In exchange, the Sun acquire power forward Tamika Whitmore from the Fever. Whitmore brings a decorated 9-year profile to Connecticut. She's played in 40 postseason games, reached the playoffs the last four seasons, and was a part of three New York Liberty campaigns to reach the WNBA Finals (1999, 2000, 2002).
"Tamika will be a major addition to our team," adds Thibault. "This trade gives us the opportunity to restructure and strengthen our front line, something that was a major goal this offseason."
In 2007, Whitmore averaged 20 points and 8 rebounds in a thrilling three-game Eastern Conference Semifinal playoff series against the Sun. She averaged 10.9 points per game during the regular season.
Whitmore says even though she's coming to Connecticut from a longtime rival, it's a good move.
"I'm really looking forward to playing there," Whitmore says, admitting that playing in Mohegan Sun Arena as a visitor is difficult thanks to the cacophonous fans. "Coach T (Thibault) and I have always had good rapport. I asked him a couple of years ago if I could play for him and I am really excited about that."
As part of the 3-for-1 transaction, Connecticut also acquires the rights to Australian guard Jessica Foley, and Indiana's first round pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft (12th overall selection). Foley, a third-round pick by Indiana in the 2006 WNBA draft, is currently playing in Adelaide, Australia where Sun guard Erin Phillips plays.
"I thank Connecticut for granting me this opportunity," Douglas says from Indy. "I wish them the best in the future."
Seattle 'Cashes' In
In other basketball news, six-year veteran forward Swin Cash is now a member of the Seattle Storm. She joins former UCONN teammate Sue Bird, and 2007 WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson. Cash has played all six of her WNBA seasons with the Detroit Shock, who in the trade pick up Seattle's number one pick in the 2008 draft, the fourth overall choice.
"I'm really happy to be in Seattle," Cash says. "I look forward to the upcoming season...playing with Sue and Lauren is going to be exciting."
