Two of the biggest names in the WNBA were on the move Sunday night in a blockbuster three-team trade.
The deal sees six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd go from the Storm to the Aces and three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum sent from Las Vegas to the Sparks, per ESPN.
The Storm will receive the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and Li Yueru from the Sparks — who are getting the No. 9 selection from Seattle. The Storm will be picking at No. 13 via the Sparks.
The trade ends Loyd’s 10-year run with Storm, which included two WNBA championships, a scoring title in 2023 and the 2015 Rookie of the Year.
Seattle has fallen from the ranks of championship contenders after the retirement of Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart signing with the Liberty.
Now Loyd is part of a Las Vegas team that won two of the past three WNBA championships and has a new Big 3 with her, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
Loyd averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season.
Plum heads to a Sparks team that, despite the best draft lottery odds, missed out on a chance to draft UConn star Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick next April.
Plum, who averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists last season, can immediately take over a lead guard role with last year’s No. 2 pick Cameron Brink working her way back from a torn ACL that cut her rookie season short.
The Storm appear to be entering at least a retooling mode after finishing third in the West in 2024 as they move up to No. 2 from No. 13 in the draft.
