UNCASVILLE, Conn. (July 9, 2018) – The Connecticut Sun announced it has acquired Layshia Clarendon and a second-round pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft from the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Alex Bentley.
“We are excited about obtaining Layshia,” Connecticut Sun General Manager and head coach Curt Miller said. “She’s a talented and savvy guard with a great reputation as a leader on and off the court. She was thrilled when we spoke, and can’t wait to arrive in Connecticut.”
A member of the 2017 WNBA All-Star team and 2017-20 USA Basketball National Team Pool, Clarendon has collected 1,237 points, 522 assists and 486 rebounds while appearing in 174 games with 88 starts. In her sixth WNBA season, she has played in 18 games with four starts.
Last year, the 5-foot-9 guard joined Sue Bird, Ticha Penicheiro, Courtney Vandersloot, Teresa Weatherspoon and Nikki Teasley as the only players in WNBA history to record 200 assists in a season. Her 226 assists were a franchise record and tied for the third highest total in league history.
Clarendon was originally drafted by the Indiana Fever with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 out of Cal after leading the Golden Bears to the first Final Four in program history, averaging 16.4 points and four rebounds per game.
Bentley was acquired from Atlanta in a three-team trade involving the Washington Mystics on March 12, 2014. She appeared in 143 games with the Sun, making 98 starts. This year, she came off the bench in all 19 Sun games, averaging 10 points.
The Sun return to action on Wednesday, July 11 versus the New York Liberty. Game time is set for 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit Connecticutsun.com or call 1-877-SUN-TIXX.