Washington Mystics trade Marissa Coleman to Los Angeles Sparks for Noelle Quinn

The Washington Mystics acquired guard-forward Noelle Quinn from the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, General Manager and Coach Trudi Lacey announced, in exchange for guard-forward Marissa Coleman.

The 6-foot Quinn has played five seasons in the WNBA, including the past three with Los Angeles. After a distinguished college career at UCLA, Quinn was the fourth overall selection in the 2007 draft by Minnesota, where she spent her first two seasons.

Last season Quinn led the WNBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7) and averaged 5.1 points, two assists and 1.8 rebounds in nearly 21 minutes per game. She played in 33 of 34 games and started 23.

“We are excited to have Noelle join the Mystics as we look toward the upcoming 2012 season,” Lacey said in a statement. “She is an experienced combo guard that brings a high basketball IQ and plays multiple positions.”

Quinn helped the Sparks advance to the playoffs in 2009 and 2010, a season in which she had career highs in points (10.2), rebounds (four), starts (34) and minutes per game (32.5). Quinn is averaging 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and three assists over her WNBA career.

“D.C. is such a historical city with fans who both love basketball and are very supportive,” Quinn said. “I will bring a positive attitude, great work ethic and experience to the team. I am so grateful for this opportunity and in doing so am willing to do whatever it takes to ensure our success.”

Coleman, meantime, goes back to the West Coast, where she was born. She relocated to Cheltenham, Md., and attended St. John’s High and the University of Maryland. As a freshman at Maryland, Coleman was a major contributor to the Terrapins’ national championship team in 2005-06.

Chosen second overall by the Mystics in the 2009 draft, Coleman gets another opportunity to play alongside former Maryland teammate Kristi Toliver, whom the Chicago Sky selected No. 3 overall in 2009. Toliver has been with the Sparks for the last two seasons.

“Being able to play with Kristi again is exciting,” Coleman said. “She and I accomplished some really great things together at Maryland, and we play really well together.”

Coleman is averaging 7.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in her WNBA career, and in 2010, she helped the Mystics win the Eastern Conference regular season title. Last season Coleman set personal single-game highs with 21 points and 12 rebounds, starting 28 games and finishing 11th in three-pointers made (51).