Sky trade Sylvia Fowles to Lynx as part of 3-team deal

The Chicago Sky traded center Sylvia Fowles to the Minnesota Lynx as part of a three-team deal Monday.

The Sky acquired Erika De Souza from Atlanta and also gave the Lynx their second-round pick in next year's draft. The Dream received Damiris Dantas, Reshanda Gray and Minnesota's first-round pick next season.

Lynx executive vice president Roger Griffith called Fowles a "proven, defensive All-Star."

"We expect her to step in and be a great leader on and off the court," he said. "She's been one of the elite centers in the WNBA and will be a key addition to our championship-caliber roster."

Fowles sat out the first half of the year after requesting a trade from Chicago in the offseason. Without their 6-foot-5 star, the Sky (11-6) are second in the Eastern Conference. The two-time Olympian is averaging 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2 blocks for her career.

"Erika brings veteran leadership, a versatile skill-set and defensive intensity that will complement our existing core," Sky coach and general manager Pokey Chatman said. "Her presence in the paint will be extremely valuable as we enter the second half of the season."

De Souza is averaging 8.6 points and 7.5 rebounds this season for the Dream. The Brazilian center spent her last eight years in Atlanta.

Minnesota (12-4) leads the West but has been hit by injuries the last week. Seimone Augustus is out most likely until mid-August with a knee injury. Lindsay Whalen hurt her eye, ending her streak of 106 straight starts. Both players missed the All-Star Game on Saturday.

The Lynx traded injured guard Monica Wright to the Seattle Storm last week for Renee Montgomery.

Atlanta (7-10) is last in the Eastern Conference but only five games out of first. In acquiring Gray, it gets a player who was selected 16th in the April draft.

"Reshanda Gray is a very good young player in this league," Dream coach Michael Cooper said. "She is a tough player who competes on the boards at both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor."