Reports: Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum headline three-team deal

The WNBA is set for a major shake-up as six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd and three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum headline a historic three-team trade involving the Seattle Storm, Las Vegas Aces, and Los Angeles Sparks. The trade, which includes significant draft picks, is expected to be finalized on February 1, as reported by multiple outlets.

This groundbreaking deal is poised to be the first in WNBA history to feature multiple No. 1 overall draft picks, according to ESPN.

What Each Team Gains

• Las Vegas Aces: The defending champions (27-13 in 2024) will acquire Jewell Loyd from Seattle along with the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft (via Los Angeles).
• Seattle Storm: After finishing 25-15 last season, Seattle will receive the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft (via Los Angeles), the Aces' first-round pick in 2026, and Sparks forward Li Yueru.
• Los Angeles Sparks: Following a difficult 8-32 campaign, the Sparks add Kelsey Plum from Las Vegas alongside two draft selections from Seattle: the No. 9 pick in 2024 and the Storm's 2026 second-round pick.

Jewell Loyd, the 2015 WNBA Rookie of the Year and the league’s top draft pick that year, is coming off a stellar career-high season, averaging 24.7 points per game in 2023. Despite her impressive performance, Loyd expressed a desire to leave Seattle, citing allegations of harassment and bullying by the coaching staff. Loyd has averaged 16.9 points across her 10 seasons in Seattle.

Kelsey Plum, a free agent cored by the Aces, will head to the Sparks via a sign-and-trade. The 2017 No. 1 overall pick started her career in Seattle before spending seven seasons with Las Vegas, where she became a key contributor. Plum averaged 14.3 points and 4 assists per game throughout her career, with a standout season in 2022, scoring 20.2 points per game and finishing third in MVP voting.

The inclusion of multiple high-value draft picks adds a significant layer to this trade, with the potential to alter the league's competitive balance for years to come.

Fans eagerly await February 1, when the deal becomes official, as this blockbuster trade reshapes the WNBA's landscape heading into the 2024 season.

SportsLigue