WNBA: Where will the Seattle Storm trade Jewell Loyd?

Last year, the Seattle Storm arguably won the offseason. Even as the team would finish the 2023 WNBA season with an 11-29 record, the franchise’s fewest wins since 2015, Jewell Loyd signed a two-year extension in September 2023. Then, unrestricted free agents Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith inked one- and two-year deals, respectively, during the 2024 free agency period.

Seattle’s reward for their smart maneuvering, however, was zero playoff wins.

A Storm team on the verge of “superteam” status finished an unremarkable 25-15 and summarily was swept in the first round of the playoffs. Additionally, an investigation into the coaching staff, due to alleged mistreatment of players, occurred after the season. Although no wrongdoing was substantiated, Loyd requested a trade soon thereafter, looking the leave the only WNBA franchise she has ever known a little more than a year after signing an extension. Ogwumike also has the opportunity to depart the Pacific Northwest after a single season, as she is an unrestricted free agent.

If last offseason saw Seattle sail through seemingly clear skies, this one promises a stormier process. Yet, as last year showed, offseason wins aren’t everything. Even if Seattle has to navigate less-than-ideal circumstances this offseason, that doesn’t mean the team is slated for an unpleasant 2025.

Here’s where the Storm stand entering free agency, as well as a consideration of the three big questions facing the team:

Facts and figures*

Players under contract (contract status; 2025 salary)

Skylar Diggins-Smith (protected veteran; $214,466)
Jordan Horston (unprotected; $76,630)
Jewell Loyd (protected veteran; $249,032)
Ezi Magebegor (protected veteran; $186,000)
Nika Mühl (unprotected; $68,595)

Free agent (type; 2024 salary)

Joyner Holmes (unrestricted; $61,380)
Nneka Ogwumike (unrestricted; $204,500)
Mercedes Russell (unrestricted; $160,000)
Victoria Vivians (unrestricted; 76,535)
Sami Whitcomb (unrestricted; $140,000)
Gabby Williams (unrestricted; $23,491)

Total salary of free agents: $665,906

Total team salary: $794,723

Cap space: $712,377

Unsigned draftees (2025 salary)

Mackenzie Holmes ($65,438)

2025 WNBA Draft picks (2025 salary)

Round 1, No. 9 ($72,455)
Round 2, No. 21 ($69,267)
Round 3, No. 29 ($66,079)
Round 3, No. 34 ($66,079)

1. What’s the move with Jewell?

When speaking at an Unrivaled press conference, Jewell Loyd declined to answer inquiries about her WNBA future. However, the No. 1 pick by the Storm in the 2015 WNBA Draft who has won two titles with the team has given no indication that she has withdrawn her trade request. And no swirling rumors have suggested that Loyd has a target destination.

From the organization’s perspective, Loyd being open to going to several different teams, thus sparking a bidding war, would be preferred, allowing Seattle to maximize their return for the superstar guard. Quite possibly, the Storm could extract a package similar to what the Chicago Sky received in exchange for Kahleah Copper last offseason, which included the No. 3 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. A lottery pick in the forthcoming draft, along with a serviceable player or two, should be what Seattle seeks.

2. Are Nneka and Gabby sticking around?

With the CBA expiring after this season, Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBPA, is likely to sign another one-year contract. And it would be surprising if she did it somewhere besides Seattle. Based on outside knowledge, it seems Ogwumike was unbothered by the team’s in-season turmoil, with reporting suggesting she had a strong relationship with the coaching staff and fellow imported co-star Skylar Diggins-Smith.

Seattle could not use the core designation to make sure Ogwumike stays in Seattle, as her core eligibility was exhausted during her time with the Los Angeles Sparks. Instead, the team cored Gabby Williams.

The decision is a bit surprising as, noted by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton and Alexa Philippou, as Williams made not being cored a precondition when choosing which team to sign with for the final stretch of the 2024 season, as she did not play in the WNBA before leading France to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Yet, ESPN further reported that, “Williams and her representatives were not surprised by Seattle’s decision to use the core designation on her and have been working closely with the Storm on determining her next steps.”

Although not a trade request, it appears the prospect of Williams returning to Seattle is far from guaranteed. It is also possible she may again choose to not participate in the WNBA, or at least not for a full season. Currently starring for Fenerbahçe in EuroLeague Women, Williams could choose to focus on preparing for and playing in EuroBasket Women with France, which will run from June 18-29.

3. Can Seattle address lack of depth?

In 2024, Seattle failed to reach “superteam” status not because of their stars, but because of unreliable depth.

Over the course of the season, the team outscored opponents by more the five points per 36 minutes whenever one of the Storm’s season-long core—Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, Loyd and Ezi Magbegor—was on the floor. When Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith or Loyd were off the court, the team had a negative point differential. Equipping the presumed returning core of Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, Magbegor and maybe Williams with a better supporting cast should be one of the organization’s top priorities. Possibly, the players received in the return for Loyd will help Seattle build a more reliable bench.

Instead of re-signing Mercedes Russell, whose effectiveness as a backup big is muted by the significant time Ogwumike and Magebegor will spend on the court, her salary slot could be allocated to fill a greater positional need, ideally a scoring wing. Someone like Tiffany Hayes, the 2024 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year with the Las Vegas Aces, would be a great fit, either as a starter or reserve. Plundering the Minnesota Lynx of Natisha Hiedeman and/or Myisha Hines-Allen could be an option, as well as Shatori Walker-Kimbrough from the Washington Mystics; all three of those players are unrestricted free agents.

As she did last season, Ogwumike could also take less than her maximum salary to try to help Seattle field a roster with stronger depth. Or, to help the team replace Loyd. An interesting name on that front would be the Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell.

*Thanks to Her Hoop Stats for all roster information and salary numbers.