Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum has been mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason. Although the Aces made the move to core Plum, rumors have continued to swirl. Jewell Loyd previously made a trade request, leading to trade rumors as well. On Sunday, a trade reportedly came to fruition, as Shams Charania of ESPN reports the Aces, Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm agreed to a three-team deal involving Plum and Loyd.
As part of the trade, the Sparks will acquire Plum and the Aces will acquire Loyd. According to Charania, Li Yueru and the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft are heading to Seattle. The Sparks will receive the No. 9 pick from the Storm, while the Aces will receive the No. 13 pick from Los Angeles.
The massive trade features the potential to drastically impact the entire landscape of the league, as Loyd and Plum are two of the better players in the WNBA. Of course, the No. 2 pick in the draft is a huge acquisition for Seattle as well.
Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum headline massive trade
Loyd, 31, had spent her entire career in Seattle with the Storm. She was selected to six All-Star teams during her time in Seattle, establishing herself as one of the best players in the league. Loyd also earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2015.
In 2024, Loyd averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She made a big impact with the Storm once again, and ended up earning her sixth career All-Star selection.
The Aces are looking to compete for their third championship in four years during the 2025 campaign. Perhaps Loyd can help A'ja Wilson lead the way.
Plum, 31, made her WNBA debut in 2017 with the San Antonio Stars. The Stars relocated to Las Vegas in 2018 and became the Aces, and Plum has remained with the organization ever since. Now, however, she is set to play for a different organization for the first time in her WNBA career.
Plum also earned an All-Star selection in 2024, the third of her career. She averaged 17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.7 steals per outing. The Sparks are rebuilding and Plum will give them a reliable veteran with an All-Star ceiling. Plum, Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink could help turn the Sparks around during the 2025 season.