Nearly two months have passed since Jewell Loyd requested a trade from the Seattle Storm. The timing was telling, as the Storm had just announced that an external investigation found no violations of harassment or bullying. ESPN reported that Loyd filed the complaint.
Loyd spent the last 10 seasons in Seattle after being the No. 1 overall pick in 2015. She re-signed a two-year deal with the Storm last offseason, enough to lure Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith to Washington in free agency. The supposed superteam finished with a 25-15 and was swept by the Aces in the first round of the playoffs.
Seattle's offseason will undoubtedly look different than in 2024, with the biggest question mark being Loyd's future. The guard is one of many stars playing in the new Unrivaled League in Miami, and she declined to answer questions about her trade request in a press conference.
The Storm were engaged in trade talks with the Sky about Loyd (who is from Chicago), but Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Thursday that those discussions have "cooled substantially" (subscription required). Costabile reported that the expectation is that Loyd won't play for her hometown team. So, where will Jewell end up?
Jewell Loyd reportedly wants to be traded to the Las Vegas Aces
Costabile reported that the Aces would be a logical fit for the guard and that Las Vegas is "where Loyd wants to be."
Loyd could be the Aces' replacement for Kelsey Plum, the first Vegas core player not to sign an extension. Plum entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and was cored by the Aces earlier this month, so the only way she can leave Vegas is via a sign-and-trade.
A Loyd-for-Plum trade likely won't be the outcome, although it'd be exciting to watch Plum return to the state where she dominated in college. It's unclear where Plum wants to be, but the belief is that she's ready for a fresh start.
Plum's situation is tied to Loyd's since Vegas is where the latter wants to be. The Aces have what it takes to bring Loyd to Nevada, so seeing how the rest of the offseason plays out will be interesting.
Loyd is a two-time champion who could help Las Vegas return to the WNBA Finals after the Liberty bounced the Aces in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. Although her numbers were down last season in Seattle, she believes the best is yet to come for her. Maybe Vegas is where she's meant to be.