The WNBA is again, and Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum have landed with new groups. The Los Angeles Sparks are buying Kelsey Plum in a three-team commerce, sending Jewell Loyd to the Aces. In alternate, the Seattle Storm will obtain heart Li Yueru and draft capital.
Storm star Jewell Loyd requested a commerce in early December after spending her first 10 seasons with Seattle. Now on the transfer, the latest information within the WNBA signifies a historic commerce. As WNBA free company kicks off, the transfer indicators the beginning of the offseason.
Former No. 1 general picks Plum and Loyd have had comparable profession paths. Each have spent their complete careers with one workforce and are every a 2x WNBA Champion with their former organizations.
Right here’s all the things we all know to date concerning the newest blockbuster commerce within the WNBA
Las Vegas Aces: Jewell Loyd (By way of Storm), No. 13 decide in 2025 WNBA Draft (By way of Seattle Storm)Los Angeles Sparks: Kelsey Plum (By way of Aces), No. 9 decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft (By way of Seattle Storm), 2026 second-round decide (By way of Seattle Storm)
Seattle Storm: No. 2 decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft (By way of Los Angeles Sparks, Li Yueru, 2026 first-round decide (By way of Las Vegas Aces).
This commerce signifies a tough reset for stars Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum. Each teammates of the 2024 Olympic Girls’s Gold Medal workforce, the celebs will now be given new alternatives of their up to date respective cities.
What the commerce means for Jewell Loyd and the Aces
The Gold Mamba Jewell Loyd has been traded to the Las Vegas Aces
Bear in mind this second 😂
pic.twitter.com/44LsgAoQDS
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 27, 2025
Annie Costabile of the Chicago Solar-Instances first reported that talks between the Sky and Storm stalled. Initially, this made sense since Jewell Loyd is an Illinois native. Nevertheless, with the Sky’s unsure future, the concept of Loyd teaming up with Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso within the Windy Metropolis appeared extremely unlikely.
Roberta Rodrigues, founder at Beta Basket, confirmed that Jewell Loyd’s most well-liked vacation spot was the Aces.
Drafted no. 1 general by the Seattle Storm within the 2025 WNBA Draft, Loyd has a extremely adorned resume. A two-time WNBA Champion with the Storm in 2018 and 2020, the previous Notre Dame Star is a 2x Olympic Gold Medalist. As well as, Loyd is a 6x WNBA All-Star, 3x All-WNBA, 2x FIBA World Cup Gold Medalist, amongst a number of different accolades.
A member of the 2020 and 2024 Olympic groups, Loyd now joins Olympic gold medalists A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Grey, and Jackie Younger in Las Vegas. Now the Gold Mamba will get an opportunity at one other ring.
Jewell Loyd joins a brand new core 4 in Las Vegas
THE GOLD MAMBA! Highlights of Jewell Loyd scoring 39 and tying the WNBA document for threes: 9
She’s additionally made 8 3PTS twicepic.twitter.com/mFqjWvGe7d https://t.co/ySWikhoKZt
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 5, 2024
Holding a profession common 16.9 factors, 3.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 10 years with the Storm, Loyd brings a lot wanted perimeter offense and dimension amongst a 3 guard system. Whereas the departure of Kelsey Plum is irreplaceable, Loyd is a pure born scorer. The addition of Loyd offers the Aces an opportunity to proceed their title run, quite than a rebuild.
With Chelsea Grey on the level, the Aces have arguably the most effective facilitator and passer within the WNBA. Then with Younger and Loyd more likely to play extra off-ball, this Aces workforce is totally outfitted to make one other championship run.
Forming a brand new core 4, this franchise has gained two championships and three convention titles since 2020.
Loyd, 31, nonetheless has a lot left within the tank, as we have just lately seen all through Unequalled. As an inaugural member of Mist, Loyd hasn’t missed a beat. Certain, the Aces will half methods with draft picks. Nevertheless, Loyd could very effectively be the lacking piece to reunite their hopes for a 3rd title.
Set to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, Loyd has one yr left on a 2-year, $463,030 contract extension. Plum can be anticipated to turn out to be a free agent subsequent yr.
What the commerce means for Kelsey Plum and the Sparks
In case you have missed it, Kelsey Plum has been making headlines throughout the sports activities world this week. With the College of Washington retiring Plum’s jersey simply final week, the guard has turn out to be some extent of dialogue in girls’s basketball. It was final yr Caitlin Clark handed Plum for the All-Time D1 Girls’s Basketball scoring document.
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Chosen as the primary general decide by the San Antonio Stars, Plum performed a key position within the workforce’s transfer to Las Vegas throughout her sophomore season. She spent all seven years of her profession with the identical group. It was simply final yr, Caitlin Clark handed Plum for NCAA D1 Girls’s basketball all-time scoring document.
With a profession common of 14.3 factors, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, Plum has been a vital a part of the Ace’s success. A two-time WNBA Champion with the Aces, Plum has had fairly the illustrious profession up to now.
Named the WNBA Sixth Participant of the 12 months in 2021, Plum is a 2x All-Star, All-Star MVP, and a 2x Olympic Gold Medalist. As a lot as she’s endured off the court docket, Plum stays probably the most elite guards within the WNBA.
Kelsey Plum most well-liked the Sparks
Whereas the transfer to LA is unknown, each Annie Costabile and Roberta Rodrigues first confirmed Plum’s most well-liked vacation spot was the Sparks. It was confirmed late final night time by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou that Plum “hopes to be a Spark past 2025.”
The Aces weren’t going to let a useful participant like Plum go away for nothing, particularly how a lot she’s meant to the group. Set to turn out to be a free agent, the Aces prolonged a Core qualifying over to Plum in mid-January. Take into account this much like a franchise tag within the NFL, besides Plum would obtain a one-year supermax with the Aces. With that stated, it sounds as if the Aces accommodated Plum with per most well-liked vacation spot request.
Does Kelsey Plum Make the Los Angeles Sparks contenders?
Welcome to Los Angeles, Kelsey Plum! @LASparks pic.twitter.com/08aQczNoqm
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 27, 2025
Plum, 30, will deliver much-needed veteran expertise to the Sparks. Reunited with former teammate Dearica Hamby, this screams the Sparks are in win-now mode. Having drafted each Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson within the first spherical of the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Sparks inventory is up. Think about a lineup that consists of Plum, a wholesome Lexie Brown, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, and Dearica Hamby?
A California native, Plum is likely one of the most artful guards with a ton of pace. Easy in getting downhill, Plum has all the time been generally known as a bucket from long-range. A profession 39 % shooter from three, Plum will give the Sparks a much-needed enhance, who completed no. 10 in three-point share (32 %).
Whereas the plan for Paige Bueckers sank way back, it has been evident the Sparks have been uncertain who they might draft with the No. 2 general decide within the 2025 NBA draft. Whether or not Oliva Miles, Sonia Citron, or another person, Plum immediately improves the Sparks offense.
Having seen the evolution of Rickea Jackson, particularly in Unequalled, I imagine this can be a scary lineup. Whereas hopeful Brink will be capable of go well with up in 2025, that is the veteran expertise the Sparks badly wanted.
What the commerce means for Li Yueru and the Seattle Storm
Li Yueru had a career-high day in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury ⬇️
19 PTS12 REB3 AST7-11 FG#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/rWRIrG18LG
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 18, 2024
In December, Jewell Loyd requested a commerce as soon as the Seattle Storm concluded an exterior investigation relating to harassment and bullying. Now that Seattle has granted her want, they get a substantial return. Not solely did Seattle obtain the No. 2 general decide within the 2025 draft, they acquired heart Li Yueru.
It is laborious to say if the Storm are certainly in rebuild mode, particularly with Nneka Ogwumike listed as a free agent. After extending a Core supply to Gabby Williams, it is unclear whether or not Seattle will proceed ahead or commerce Williams.
Both manner, the Storm is constructed for the longer term. With that stated, the franchise at present holds a 2025 first-round decide, two 2026 first-round picks, and a 2027 first-round decide. Ending 25-15, the Storm have been knocked out of the playoffs by the Aces final season. With Skylar Diggins-Smith set to return, the Storm might preserve the core of Smith, Williams, and Ogwumike.
If not, this can be a new period for heart Ezi Magbegor and the Storm. Li Yueru, will add instantaneous dimension to the Storm. Yueru, 25, standing at 6’7, and may enhance a formidable basis within the entrance court docket with Magbegor.
Having completed up her 2nd season within the WNBA, Yueru averaged 5.1 factors, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 38 video games with the Sparks. Initially drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2019, Yueru was included in trades involving Chennedy Carter and Lexie Brown.
With WNBA free company in full swing, maybe this commerce kick-started your complete offseason. Both manner, all events appeared to have been granted their want. An finish of an period for each stars, which of the three groups gained the commerce?
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator, and Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a give attention to the Girls’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane at present resides within the Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate
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