Amanda Zahui B, first WNBA player traded 3 times in a year, brings vet presence to Fever

INDIANAPOLIS — Newly acquired Indiana Fever forward Amanda Zahui B is no stranger to the trade board.

Zahui B, who was traded from the Washington Mystics to the Fever on July 4 in exchange for Queen Egbo, became the first player in WNBA history to be traded three times in one calendar year.

On the day she was traded for the third time, she already had to say one hard goodbye — Zahui B’s girlfriend, Shameeka Fishley, who plays professional soccer in France, was leaving after her visit.

“It was very surprising, it happened very fast, in like 20 minutes,” Zahui B said Sunday. “I was actually on my way to drop my girlfriend off at the airport, so I was already, like, emotional.”

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Zahui B didn’t play in the WNBA in 2022 because of compliance issues between the L.A. Sparks, the team she played for in the 2021 WNBA season, and her overseas commitments.

She started the 2022-23 offseason with the Sparks having her negotiation rights before she was sent to the Las Vegas Aces on Jan. 21. Then, Las Vegas traded her to Washington on Feb. 4 in exchange for multiple second-round picks.

And in that span, she was still playing overseas.

“When I got traded from L.A. to Vegas, I was in Italy,” Zahui B said. “And then Vegas to Washington, I was still in Italy. So it’s been good so far. Something I try to think of is that this is a blessing, right, I get to play in the WNBA, I still have a job, I get to be surrounded by amazing people.”

Zahui B, who signed a one-year deal with the Mystics, played in 12 games with Washington, averaging 7.8 minutes. There, she was surrounded by frontcourt veterans like ninth-year players Elena Delle Donne and Tianna Hawkins, as well as 13-year WNBA veteran Kristi Toliver.

With the Fever, she’s tied with Emma Cannon as the most-experienced player on the roster.

“She’s a vet in our league, so that’s going to be good for us to have another vet,” Cannon said. “She’s a good post player, she has a 3-point shot, she can play inside, outside. It’s going to be interesting, it’s going to be good for us.”

Zahui B’s first assignment with Indiana didn’t require much traveling, as her first game in a Fever uniform was against the Mystics in Washington, D.C. She played nearly four minutes in her debut with the Fever against her former team, registering four points, an assist and a rebound.

“That was weird,” Zahui B said of playing her former team. “Now, I’m one of the older players, so that’s definitely a change, being one of the veterans and just trying to help out as much as possible. Always kind of been that kind of person just watching the game and trying to help out my teammates, but mainly just trying to be there for the post players. They’re extremely young but so talented.”

Following the Fever’s loss to the Mystics, Zahui B traveled with the team back to Indianapolis, touching down for the first time Saturday — one day before her first home game. For now, she’s staying in a hotel room until she can find a place to live.

In the meantime, Zahui B is helping out Fever All-Star rookie Aliyah Boston, who she said is “a better 5 than I am probably ever going to be.” The seven-year veteran is trying to coach the rookie on the smaller details, she said, including what she sees during games Boston might have missed.

And the Fever’s coaching staff is already seeing her veteran impact on the team.

“It’s just nice to have a veteran player,” coach Christie Sides said. “She had a lot of experience, she’s been on a lot of different teams. The basketball conversations she and I have had since she joined us, it’s just incredible.”

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever: Amanda Zahui B settling in after surprising trade