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In a blockbuster three-team trade, the Las Vegas Aces are acquiring Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd while sending Aces guard Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks. It is the first trade in league history involving multiple No. 1 overall picks.
The trade ends Kelsey Plum’s seven-season tenure in Las Vegas, where the 30-year-old guard helped secure back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023.
Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, Plum earned three All-Star selections and was named to the All-WNBA team in 2022.
Despite her stellar history, Plum’s production dipped in 2024, with a decline in shooting percentages. The Aces were eliminated in the WNBA Playoffs semifinals by the eventual champions, the New York Liberty.
Las Vegas now resets its guard position with Jewell Loyd, a 31-year-old All-Star with two WNBA titles and a Rookie of the Year award from her nine seasons with the Seattle Storm.
The Los Angeles Sparks, under new head coach Lynne Roberts, are building a competitive roster. Plum’s three-point shooting complements their core, including standout players Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, and Dearica Hamby, who set career-highs in 2024 with 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
Seattle, meanwhile, adds the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, joining a strong draft pool that could include Paige Bueckers, Aneesah Morrow, and Kiki Iriafen. The team also acquired 6-foot-7 center Li Yueru, adding size to its roster.
The trade signals a new era for all three teams as they reshape their rosters ahead of the 2025 season.
