The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has acquired the No. 8 pick in Monday’s 2024 WNBA Draft, the right to exchange first-round picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft, a second-round pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and forward Sika Koné from the Chicago Sky in return for Minnesota’s No. 7 pick in Monday’s draft and the rights to forward Nikolina Milić.
“This trade in the WNBA Draft continues our focus on building a foundation for sustained success,” said Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve.
Koné, a 6’3”, 21-year-old native of Mali, was selected in the third round (29th overall) of the 2022 WNBA Draft by New York. She was awarded to Chicago on waivers on May 18, 2023 and saw action in 20 games as a rookie with the Sky, tallying 3.6 points on 53.2% shooting and 3.0 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game. She currently plays for Spanish club Perfumerías Avenida, where she’s netting 11.2 points on 60.8% shooting and 7.2 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game over 31 Liga Endesa starts. In 16 EuroLeague outings, Koné averaged 12.2 points on 54.9% shooting and 7.1 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game.
Milić, initially signed by Minnesota on May 6, 2022, appeared in 70 games (seven starts) with the Lynx over the past two seasons and averaged 5.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 12.3 minutes while shooting 49.8% from the floor and 77.6% from the FT line. She scored a career-high 23 points vs. Indiana on June 12, 2022 and hauled down a career-best nine rebounds at Las Vegas on June 19, 2022.
Minnesota currently has two selections in the 2024 WNBA Draft, No. 8 (first round) and No. 31 (third round) overall. The draft will be televised live on ESPN on Monday, Apr. 15, with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT.
(info courtesy of Lynx)
