Sky releases forward Irvin, signs free agent Murphy

As it battles to get into contention for a spot in the WNBA playoffs, the Chicago Sky has waived forward Sandora Irvin and signed a playoff-experienced guard, Shay Murphy.

Murphy averaged 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.7 minutes for the Indiana Fever through 15 games this seasonbefore being waived on July 11. The 5-11 guard was originally drafted by the Minnesota Lynx 15th overall in the 2007 WNBA Draft out of the University of Southern California.

Murphy, who has averaged 4.3 points and 2.6 rebounds throughout her career, is expected to dress for the Sky's home game on Friday against the New York Liberty.

"We expect Shay to come in and contribute to this team's success pretty quickly," said Steven Key, Sky head coach and general manager. "She's a veteran guard who can score and has valuable playoff experience."

Murphy spent parts of 2008 with the Lynx, the Detroit Shock and the Washington Mystics. She was traded from Minnesota to Detroit on June 22, 2008 for LaToya Thomas and then from Detroit to Washington on August 12, 2008 for Taj McWilliams-Franklin. Three games into the 2009 season Murphy signed with the Indiana Fever as a free agent. She played in 24 games for the Fever and helped the Fever to the 2009 WNBA Finals, where they fell to the Phoenix Mercury.

As a member of the Fever, Murphy gave the Sky fits this season. She scored 20 points and had six assists in 36 minutes in a game on May 22.

Irvin played in 18 games for the Sky in 2010 after making the team out of training camp. She averaged 7.4 minutes per game along with 1.9 ppg and and 1.4 rpg.