Shock acquires veteran players Wiggins, Powell
BY MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Saturday, March 02, 2013
3/02/13 at 6:04 AM
The Tulsa Shock has acquired WNBA veterans Candice Wiggins and Nicole Powell in a three-way deal with the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty.
The Shock relinquished a total of three selections in the 2013 and 2014 drafts and traded negotiating rights for Deanna Nolan to New York in exchange for the Liberty's 2013 third-round draft pick.
Nolan, a former Shock player when the franchise was in Detroit, hasn't played in the WNBA since 2009.
Wiggins, a 5-foot-11 guard, was the Lynx's first player off the bench last season, her fifth in the league. She played in all 43 regular-season and playoff games, averaging 6.8 points and two assists while shooting almost 40 percent from 3-point range.
Powell, a 6-foot-2 forward, started 21 regular-season games and two in the playoffs last season, averaging seven points and 4.3 rebounds in her ninth WNBA season.
"Candice and Nicole are going to have a huge impact on and off the court with our team heading into the 2013 season," Shock president Steve Swetoha said.
"These players have won championships with other teams, and this is going to add so much more to the intangibles in our locker room," Swetoha said.
Wiggins was part of the Lynx's 2011 championship team. Powell won with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005.
Shock head coach Gary Kloppenburg said the best news about adding Wiggins is not having to play against her in 2013.
"She just caused great havoc for our team. It seems like she was a key factor in (the Lynx) beating us every time we played them last year," Kloppenburg said.
Tulsa was 0-5 against Minnesota in 2012. Wiggins scored a season-high 25 points with a career-high six treys in the Lynx's 107-86 win on July 10.
"She's such a fierce and competitive defender, she could really make life difficult on opposing point guards, as well as being a gifted offensive player," Kloppenburg said. "She did a great job in her role for Minnesota. She's a proven winner and I think she's gonna have a great career in Tulsa."
In a Shock release, Wiggins said, "Tulsa is a warm place and I have always loved playing in the BOK Center. ... I want to thank Tulsa for this golden opportunity for me to bring my talent to this righteous city."
In exchange for Wiggins, the Shock gave up its second-round selection in the 2014 draft. For Powell, the Shock traded its second- and third-round selections in the 2013 draft.
By acquiring New York's 2013 draft pick in the trade for Nolan, the Shock effectively swapped places with the Liberty in the third round. New York will now choose 27th overall and the Shock will choose 29th.
Wiggins and Powell will give the Shock three former Stanford standouts, joining forward Kayla Pedersen.
Wiggins was Pac-10 player of the year in 2005, '06 and '08 and ranks as the leading scorer in league history with 2,629 points. Powell was Pac-10 player of the year in 2002 and '04.
Powell was taken third overall in the 2004 WNBA draft by the Charlotte Sting. Wiggins was chosen third overall in 2008 by the Lynx.
Original Print Headline: Shock acquires veteran players Wiggins, Powell in deal
Mike Brown 918-581-8390
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