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The WNBA is back, and Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum have landed with new teams. The Los Angeles Sparks are acquiring Kelsey Plum in a three-team trade, sending Jewell Loyd to the Aces. In exchange, the Seattle Storm will receive center Li Yueru and draft capital.
Storm star Jewell Loyd requested a trade in early December after spending her first 10 seasons with Seattle. Now on the move, the recent news in the WNBA indicates a historic trade. As WNBA free agency kicks off, the move signals the start of the offseason.
Former No. 1 overall picks Plum and Loyd have had similar career paths. Both have spent their entire careers with one team and are each a 2x WNBA Champion with their former organizations.
Here’s everything we know so far about the latest blockbuster trade in the WNBA
Las Vegas Aces: Jewell Loyd (Via Storm), No. 13 pick in 2025 WNBA Draft (Via Seattle Storm)Los Angeles Sparks: Kelsey Plum (Via Aces), No. 9 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft (Via Seattle Storm), 2026 second-round pick (Via Seattle Storm)
Seattle Storm: No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft (Via Los Angeles Sparks, Li Yueru, 2026 first-round pick (Via Las Vegas Aces).
This trade indicates a hard reset for stars Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum. Both teammates of the 2024 Olympic Women’s Gold Medal team, the stars will now be given new opportunities in their updated respective cities.
What the trade means for Jewell Loyd and the Aces
The Gold Mamba Jewell Loyd has been traded to the Las Vegas Aces
Remember this moment 😂
pic.twitter.com/44LsgAoQDS
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 27, 2025
Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times first reported that talks between the Sky and Storm stalled. Initially, this made sense since Jewell Loyd is an Illinois native. However, with the Sky’s uncertain future, the idea of Loyd teaming up with Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in the Windy City seemed highly unlikely.
Roberta Rodrigues, founder at Beta Basket, confirmed that Jewell Loyd’s preferred destination was the Aces.
Drafted no. 1 overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Loyd has a highly decorated resume. A two-time WNBA Champion with the Storm in 2018 and 2020, the former Notre Dame Star is a 2x Olympic Gold Medalist. In addition, Loyd is a 6x WNBA All-Star, 3x All-WNBA, 2x FIBA World Cup Gold Medalist, among several other accolades.
A member of the 2020 and 2024 Olympic teams, Loyd now joins Olympic gold medalists A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young in Las Vegas. Now the Gold Mamba will get a chance at another ring.
Jewell Loyd joins a new core four in Las Vegas
THE GOLD MAMBA! Highlights of Jewell Loyd scoring 39 and tying the WNBA record for threes: 9
She’s also made 8 3PTS twicepic.twitter.com/mFqjWvGe7d https://t.co/ySWikhoKZt
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 5, 2024
Holding a career average 16.9 points, 3.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 10 years with the Storm, Loyd brings much needed perimeter offense and size among a three guard system. While the departure of Kelsey Plum is irreplaceable, Loyd is a natural born scorer. The addition of Loyd gives the Aces a chance to continue their title run, rather than a rebuild.
With Chelsea Gray at the point, the Aces have arguably the best facilitator and passer in the WNBA. Then with Young and Loyd likely to play more off-ball, this Aces team is fully equipped to make another championship run.
Forming a new core four, this franchise has won two championships and three conference titles since 2020.
Loyd, 31, still has plenty left in the tank, as we’ve recently seen throughout Unrivaled. As an inaugural member of Mist, Loyd hasn’t missed a beat. Sure, the Aces will part ways with draft picks. However, Loyd may very well be the missing piece to reunite their hopes for a third title.
Set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, Loyd has one year left on a 2-year, $463,030 contract extension. Plum is also expected to become a free agent next year.
What the trade means for Kelsey Plum and the Sparks
In case you’ve missed it, Kelsey Plum has been making headlines across the sports world this week. With the University of Washington retiring Plum’s jersey just last week, the guard has become a point of discussion in women’s basketball. It was last year Caitlin Clark passed Plum for the All-Time D1 Women’s Basketball scoring record.
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Selected as the first overall pick by the San Antonio Stars, Plum played a key role in the team’s move to Las Vegas during her sophomore season. She spent all seven years of her career with the same organization. It was just last year, Caitlin Clark passed Plum for NCAA D1 Women’s basketball all-time scoring record.
With a career average of 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, Plum has been a crucial part of the Ace’s success. A two-time WNBA Champion with the Aces, Plum has had quite the illustrious career thus far.
Named the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year in 2021, Plum is a 2x All-Star, All-Star MVP, and a 2x Olympic Gold Medalist. As much as she’s endured off the court, Plum remains one of the most elite guards in the WNBA.
Kelsey Plum preferred the Sparks
While the move to LA is unknown, both Annie Costabile and Roberta Rodrigues first confirmed Plum’s preferred destination was the Sparks. It was confirmed late last night by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou that Plum “hopes to be a Spark beyond 2025.”
The Aces weren’t going to let a valuable player like Plum leave for nothing, especially how much she’s meant to the organization. Set to become a free agent, the Aces extended a Core qualifying over to Plum in mid-January. Consider this similar to a franchise tag in the NFL, except Plum would receive a one-year supermax with the Aces. With that said, it sounds as though the Aces accommodated Plum with per preferred destination 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 bring much-needed veteran experience to the Sparks. Reunited with former teammate Dearica Hamby, this screams the Sparks are in win-now mode. Having drafted both Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Sparks stock is up. Imagine a lineup that consists of Plum, a healthy Lexie Brown, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, and Dearica Hamby?
A California native, Plum is one of the most crafty guards with a ton of speed. Smooth in getting downhill, Plum has always been known as a bucket from long-range. A career 39 % shooter from three, Plum will give the Sparks a much-needed boost, who finished no. 10 in three-point percentage (32 %).
While the plan for Paige Bueckers sank long ago, it’s been evident the Sparks were unsure who they would draft with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Whether Oliva Miles, Sonia Citron, or someone else, Plum instantly improves the Sparks offense.
Having seen the evolution of Rickea Jackson, especially in Unrivaled, I believe this is a scary lineup. While hopeful Brink will be able to suit up in 2025, this is the veteran experience the Sparks badly needed.
What the trade means for Li Yueru and the Seattle Storm
Li Yueru had a career-high day against 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 trade once the Seattle Storm concluded an external investigation regarding harassment and bullying. Now that Seattle has granted her wish, they get a considerable return. Not only did Seattle receive the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, they acquired center Li Yueru.
It’s hard to say if the Storm are indeed in rebuild mode, especially with Nneka Ogwumike listed as a free agent. After extending a Core offer to Gabby Williams, it’s unclear whether Seattle will continue forward or trade Williams.
Either way, the Storm is built for the future. With that said, the franchise currently holds a 2025 first-round pick, two 2026 first-round picks, and a 2027 first-round pick. Finishing 25-15, the Storm were knocked out of the playoffs by the Aces last season. With Skylar Diggins-Smith set to return, the Storm could keep the core of Smith, Williams, and Ogwumike.
If not, this is a new era for center Ezi Magbegor and the Storm. Li Yueru, will add instant size to the Storm. Yueru, 25, standing at 6’7, and should increase a formidable foundation in the front court with Magbegor.
Having finished up her 2nd season in the WNBA, Yueru averaged 5.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 38 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 agency in full swing, perhaps this trade kick-started the entire offseason. Either way, all parties seemed to have been granted their wish. An end of an era for both stars, which of the three teams won the trade?
Stay tuned for more WNBA and Unrivaled related articles. Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator, and Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the Women’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane currently resides in the Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate
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