Dana Evans clarifies she did initiate trade talks with Sky ahead of Olympic break

The Sky appeared to go into full damage control mode on Wednesday night. At least, they attempted to do so with an interestingly timed social media post.

During the Sky's 74-70 loss to the Mystics, the Sky's social team posted a photo of guard Dana Evans and coach Teresa Weatherspoon hugging on the team's Instagram.

On an average day, this kind of post wouldn't arouse any intrigue. However, in this instance, the difference between social media and reality was too stark to ignore.

Less than two hours before the Sky's post, Evans had matter-of-factly stated her discontent with the role she'd been relegated to under Weatherspoon. While speaking with the media, Evans stated she had never requested a trade.

Less than 24 hours later, she felt the need to clarify.

"Yesterday during pregame media, I was caught off guard with the trade request question," Evans wrote on X. "I initiated trade talks a couple of months ago. But after the Olympic break, I said I would go ahead and finish the season strong with Chicago."

The truth is that trade discussions involving Evans never quite reached the levels of former Sky stars Marina Mabrey and Kahleah Copper. She did not demand out like both of those players. However, a trade request was made ahead of the Olympic break, and it was triggered by her increasingly waning minutes after being moved out of the starting five.

Evans made her desire to be moved clear in an interview with the Sun-Times in July, during which she said she no longer felt like the Sky saw her in the franchise's plans. At that time in the season, Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca was in active trade talks to move Evans, including with the Sparks.

Pagliocca has prioritized draft stock in all of the moves he's made since taking over as the first person to hold the individual title of general manager. The trade discussions involving Evans never included satisfactory assets.

When Evans returned from the Olympic break, she sat down with Pagliocca to discuss the rest of the season. During that conversation, Evans expressed the same feelings she had shared with the media before Wednesday night's game.

"Right now, I'm here," Evans said. "I'm two feet in with the Sky, so that's my main focus for the rest of the season."

Evan's statement sums up her approach to requesting a trade. She made clear her discontent with coming off the bench as a two-guard instead of running point as a starter. However, from the beginning, she said, "When my number is called, I’ll be ready.’’

The Sky have a long history of players forcing their way out of Chicago, going back to Sylvia Fowles in 2015 and then Elena Delle Donne in 2017. Evans' request never became a demand. However, it paints a similar picture of the Sky.

Weatherspoon's rotations this season have been inconsistent as she's worked to establish her systems as a first-year head coach in the WNBA. Evans' role has been a casualty as a result.

In the Sky's most recent losses to the Sun and Aces, Evans played six minutes. Against the Mystics she played 24 minutes, finishing with six points, two assists, one rebound and three turnovers.

While Weatherspoon has maintained that Evans is a valuable piece to the Sky's success, her usage says otherwise. In the new year Evans will be a restricted free agent, giving the Sky the right of first refusal of any offer she receives.

At this point, the Sky and Evans don't appear to have the makings of an advantageous future together.