In a major WNBA trade, the Seattle Storm are trading six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team deal. As part of the trade, three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum will join the Los Angeles Sparks.
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According to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Storm are receiving the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft along with Li Yueru from the Sparks, while the Sparks will acquire the No. 9 pick from Seattle. The Aces, in turn, will secure the No. 13 pick from Los Angeles.
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Loyd, who had signed a two-year supermax extension with Seattle in September 2023, requested a trade just three months later, on December 4.
After spending all 10 years of her career with the Storm, the 31-year-old had struggled with shooting in 2024, posting a career-low 27.4% from three-point range. Nevertheless, she still averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, making her a valuable asset in the trade.
While Plum had not formally requested a trade from the Aces, there were strong indications she was seeking a "fresh start."
On January 11, Las Vegas designated her as their "core" player, attaching a one-year supermax qualifying offer of $249,244. Plum, who made her third consecutive All-Star appearance in 2024, averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists per game, shooting a career-high 36.8% from three-point range.
Given her likely departure from Las Vegas, many viewed the Aces' decision to core her as a strategic move to ensure they got something in return if she was traded.
The Los Angeles Sparks were ultimately the destination for Plum in the trade, where she will join a young and promising roster featuring players like Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson. Meanwhile, Seattle's decision to move Loyd opened the door for the Storm to acquire key assets to help with their rebuilding efforts.
Plum, a key player in the Las Vegas Aces' back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, earned her first All-WNBA First Team selection in 2022, along with being named MVP of her first WNBA All-Star Game. Plum also captured gold medals with Team USA, first in 3x3 basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and then in 5x5 basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Loyd, the first overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, also boasts an impressive international résumé, having won gold medals with Team USA in both the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics. Known as the "Gold Mamba," Loyd has cemented herself as one of the league's top stars, continuing to build on her legacy as a standout player for Seattle.
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