The Seattle Storm have traded their franchise cornerstone Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team trade that will also send star guard Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks. In return, the Storm received the Sparks' number two pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, a young backup center Li Yueru (Lee YOU-ROO), and a 2026 first-round pick from Las Vegas. In addition to Plum, the Sparks get Seattle’s 2025 ninth-overall selection and their 2026 first-round pick. The Aces will receive Loyd from the Storm and LA’s number 13 pick in the upcoming draft. In the first big move of the offseason, the teams involved have shown how close they are to a WNBA championship.
According to Alexa Philippou of ESPN, Loyd requested a trade out of Seattle last December, and they sent her to a star-powered team in Las Vegas. The Aces lose a combo guard in Plum, whom they drafted in 2017, and replace her with Loyd, who will help their scoring. Her arrival to Las Vegas creates yet another problem for opposing defenses, to go along with their big three of A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. Last season, the Aces finished an injury-riddled season with a 27-13 record but lost to the New York Liberty in the semifinals.
With the Storm, Loyd averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game last season. Las Vegas has profited mightily from the star power on their roster, winning two championships in the last three seasons. Led by Head Coach Becky Hammon, she will be in charge of making another roster filled with superstars into a championship team. The Aces have three free agents in forward Alysha Clark, who won two championships with Seattle in 2018 and 2020, along with Sydney Colson and Tiffany Hayes. Although Loyd’s contract takes up the most cap space of their roster (16.5%), they shouldn’t have a problem bringing back their free agents. After last season ended in disappointment in Las Vegas, they used this trade to reload into a true championship contender next year.
Seattle made the best out of a tough situation. Loyd was designed to be the franchise leader after Breanna Stewart left for New York and Sue Bird retired in 2022. However, due to a previous investigation by the WNBA on the potential harassment by the coaching staff, she decided to request a trade. The Storm now own the second overall pick in the draft, with many options to choose from to improve their roster. They have proven success selecting in previous drafts, adding pieces like Jordan Horston and Nika Mühl.
Along with draft capital, the Storm also added Yueru, a 25-year-old backup center from the Sparks. Last season she averaged 5.1 points, and 4.1 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game. Although her production was limited with LA, Yueru is poised for a bigger role in Seattle as an upgraded backup to their defensive anchor. With Loyd gone, the Storm are now building around Ezi Magbegor (Mag-BEH-gor), their star defensive center. She averaged 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and a career-high 2.2 blocks per game last season. Seattle has many free agents to prioritize bringing back, including nine-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike (NEH-kuh OH-gwoo-muh-kay). The immediate goals for the Storm will be more clear after free agency, but the expectation is to build around what they have. They cored their two-way wing, Gabby Williams, who joined Seattle after the Olympic break. She rounds out a young core of players with their veteran point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, who is ready to lead the team yet again. As free agency begins for the Storm, their immediate goals will be more transparent following the draft.
The Los Angeles Sparks used this trade to aid in their rebuild. After losing Ogwumike to Seattle last offseason, they selected forwards Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson in the 2024 draft with the second and fourth picks respectively. The Sparks added an All-Star point guard with championship experience, filling their hole in that position. They also have the opportunity to add another piece with the ninth pick in the draft. LA is entering the next stage in their rebuild, with a roster that has potential.
Although they finished with an 8-32 record, most of their losses came after Brink tore her ACL. Before her injury, she was off to a promising start averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. Jackson averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game, already providing a spark of her own as a rookie. The Sparks also have a veteran front court, led by three-time All-Star Dearica Hamby, who also won a championship with Plum in Las Vegas. An incoming free agent, the new LA acquisition all but confirms her return to reunite with her former teammate.
Plum isn’t a traditional point guard, as she is more of a scorer than a facilitator. Last season she averaged 17.8 points, and 4.2 assists per game, which should improve with her new team. A scoring point guard isn’t needed on a team as much as a facilitator, but LA needs more scoring. Last season they had the third-worst offensive rating at 97.0, meaning they scored 97 points per 100 possessions. This trade shows the Sparks believe their core is talented enough to compete when they’re healthy, which is important in a rebuild.
Although Brink won’t return to play at the beginning of the season, LA will be a playoff team if she returns to her 100% self. Given the pieces around her, Plum, and Hamby, the Sparks will experience success sooner rather than later.
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Greenville High School Academy
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