Liberty trade Nurse, Walker to Mercury, land Howard from Storm

The New York Liberty have traded Kia Nurse and Megan Walker to the Phoenix Mercury for the sixth overall pick in 2021 and a 2022 first-round pick, the teams announced Wednesday.

The Liberty then flipped their own 2021 first-rounder and the Mercury's 2022 pick to the Seattle Storm for 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard.

New York also acquired guard Sami Whitcomb from Seattle via sign-and-trade for the rights to forward Stephanie Talbot.

Howard's acquisition gives New York a talented core duo consisting of the three-time WNBA champion alongside Sabrina Ionescu, the top selection in the 2020 draft.