In a significant shakeup in the WNBA, the Seattle Storm have traded six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces as part of a multi-team deal. The transaction, which will also send three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, marks a new chapter for both players as they transition to different teams by 2025.
As part of the trade, Seattle will receive the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft and reserve center Li Yueru from the Sparks. Los Angeles will acquire the No. 9 pick from Seattle, while the Aces will secure the No. 13 pick from the Sparks.
Jewell Loyd, 31, moves to the Aces after a decade with the Storm, where she earned Rookie of the Year honors and has been named an All-Star in six of her last seven seasons. Last year, she averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, adding a versatile and high-scoring option to an Aces team that has recently enjoyed success, winning back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 before falling in the semifinals last season.
Kelsey Plum, 30, who has played her entire WNBA career with the Aces since their last season as the San Antonio Stars, is making her way to a Sparks team that is rebuilding after finishing at the bottom of the league last year. Plum was instrumental in the Aces’ championship runs, making the All-Star team for the last three seasons and averaging 17.8 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.6 rebounds last season.
Both players contributed to Team USA’s gold-medal victory at the Paris Olympics last summer, showcasing their elite skills on an international stage.
With the trade, Seattle is clearly looking to rebuild, indicated by their acquisition of the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft. This marks a new phase for the Storm, who were eliminated by the Aces in the first round of last season’s playoffs as the No. 5 seed.
Overall, this trade not only shifts the landscape of WNBA rosters but also presents both Loyd and Plum with fresh opportunities as they head into the next stages of their careers. The transaction could rejuvenate the Sparks’ lineup while providing the Aces with a seasoned competitor to solidify their pursuit of another title.