End of an era: Jewell Loyd dealt to Aces in three-team trade
By Christan Braswell
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Storm are trading two-time WNBA champion Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a multi-team deal that will send three-time All Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, according to ESPN.
The Storm will receive the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft and Li Yueru from the Sparks. In exchange, Los Angeles will receive the No. 9 pick from the Storm, and the Aces end up with the No. 13 pick from the Sparks, ESPN reports.
After a decade with Seattle, Loyd, 31, joins an Aces team looking to reclaim their position as numero uno in the WNBA after failing to become the first team since the Sparks in the 2000s to win three consecutive titles. Swapping Plum with a determined Loyd just might help their cause.
Loyd has made an All-Star team in the last four seasons and six of the last seven. Despite shooting the worst percentage of her career on twos (40%) and second-worst on threes (27%), the six-time All-Star is just that for a reason. While Las Vegas might not get the league-leading scoring Loyd that claimed the title just two seasons ago, that won’t be what’s asked of her in that particular system.
The Return
On Saturday, Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that first domino to fall in free agency would be a three-team trade between these teams. The only issue holding it up was Seattle’s compensation.
Li Yueru is a 6’7 center with an incredible touch around the rim and isn’t afraid to put the ball on the floor while utilizing her frame. One of Seattle’s most visible downfalls in 2024 was a lack of reliable depth in the post. With Yueru included, consider that to be acknowledged. The team also expected to resign veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike. Until the trade was completed and Loyd’s $249,032 cap hold was removed.
Seattle receiving the No. 2 pick from the Sparks seemed like a forgone conclusion considering the nature of Loyd’s trade request until it wasn’t.
Suited with a near-top pick in a star-studded draft, Seattle will look to start anew yet again for the third straight offseason. In 2022, franchise cornerstones Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart departed from the Pacific Northwest, leading to the lowest win total in nine seasons (11) in 2023. The following offseason saw then-free agent talents Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith sign on.
As the Loyd era came and went, Seattle will face the decision of a lifetime on April 14 to jumpstart a new one.
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