The WNBA offseason has seen a few moves made, but a game-changing trade could reportedly be coming soon. According to Annie Costabile of The Chicago Sun-Times, league sources have said that a three-team trade including Kelsey Plum and Jewell Loyd could come to fruition.
As part of the deal, Plum would land in Los Angeles with the Sparks while Loyd would join the Las Vegas Aces. There would be more players involved, of course, but Loyd and Plum headline the 'proposed trade.'
Loyd previously made a trade request. She has been linked to multiple teams since the request. Joining the Aces would give her a legitimate opportunity to win, as Las Vegas has earned championships in two of the past three seasons.
Meanwhile, Kelsey Plum trade rumors have also been fairly constant this offseason. Although the Aces made the decision to core Plum, the guard still does not have a long-term contract extension. A trade could end up happening as a result.
Loyd and Plum have both played for their current teams for a long time, so trading them away would be a difficult decision for both teams. Plum does not have a known trade request at the moment, but Loyd's trade request makes this situation especially intriguing. She will likely be traded at some point, but it remains to be seen if the deal will be this specific trade.
Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum-led trade set to come to fruition?
Loyd and Plum were both All-Stars in 2024. Loyd averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per outing, while Plum recorded 17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.7 steals per outing.
If a Loyd and Plum-led trade were to happen, it would change the entire WNBA landscape. They are both stars without question, so this type of deal would be incredibly impactful to say the least.
Many teams around the WNBA would surely love to add Plum and Loyd, though. The Aces could use a star like Loyd in order to upset the defending champion New York Liberty, while the rebuilding Sparks would benefit from adding a veteran guard such as Plum. Both fits make sense, but the trade has yet to occur.
Updates on the rumored proposed trade will continue to surface over the next week. It is an uncertain situation for now, but a three-team trade between the Sparks, Aces and Storm seems to be a possibility.