New WNBA superstar trade request could have enormous implications

Jewell Loyd has requested a trade from the Seattle Storm, according to Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Loyd, a six-time All-Star, has been with the organization since she was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015 after a decorated college basketball career at Notre Dame. Alongside Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, Loyd won two championships with the Storm and was viewed by many as a franchise cornerstone.

But, according to Costabile, sources close to the star have confirmed she wants out after 9 seasons.

Loyd signed a two-year contract extension with the Storm in September of 2023, a move that helped attract top free agents Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike to the organization despite 2023 being a losing season. As a result of this newly-established core, Seattle was viewed by many as a contender ahead of the 2024 WNBA season, ranking fourth in ESPN’s preseason rankings.

But, the Storm underachieved, finished with a 25-15 record and closing out the season with an 8-7 stretch before ultimately falling to the Las Vegas Aces 0-2 in the first round of the playoffs.

Loyd had the most inefficient season of her WNBA career, averaging 19.7 points on 36% shooting, including 27.4% from three.

On a team level, effort — and lack thereof — had become a major theme in Storm postgame pressers.

“In this league, if you aren’t ready to play, you’ll get beat every f***ing night,” said Diggins-Smith after a loss to the Washington Mystics. “They were ready to play, and we weren’t — on both sides of the basketball. They deserved to win if we’re going to play like that.”

And, after the Storm were eliminated in the postseason, head coach Noelle Quinn again brought up the team’s effort, as she had several times throughout the season: “I will be better. Our team will be better. Effort will never, ever be a thing for us again.”

Beyond postgame remarks, the roots of the Storm’s struggles — and a described lack of effort — were not always clear.

But last month, Costabile reported that an investigation had been filed into alleged harassment and bullying from the Storm coaching staff. ESPN reported on Wednesday that an outside investigation into the reported harassment and bullying concluded without finding any violations.

“The Storm recently received internal allegations of potential workplace policy violations,” read a statement provided to ESPN. “The organization retained an outside investigator to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations. The investigation has been completed and there were no findings of policy violations or any discrimination, harassment, or bullying.”

Costabile reported that “Loyd’s future in Seattle was contingent upon a belief that relationships within the organization could be mended.” Seeing that the investigation concluded there was no wrongdoing, the request came just a few hours later.

Presuming that Loyd’s request will be fulfilled, Seattle enters an uncertain offseason. Loyd, despite having a poor 2024 season by her standards, was one of the franchise cornerstones and a key part of the 2018 and 2020 championship teams. A member of the 2024 Paris Olympic team, she was still the WNBA’s sixth-leading scorer in the 2024 regular season despite uneven efficiency.

Almost immediately — presuming the trade request is carried through — she becomes one of the top available players this offseason.

Meanwhile, three of Seattle’s top players — Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, and Skylar Diggins-Smith — are free agents this summer. Whether or not Loyd’s request will play a part in their desire to re-sign remains to be seen, but the initial core of Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, and Loyd that many thought could bring a championship back to Seattle will be broken up after just one season. If Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith choose not to return, they’ll join a class of free agents that includes Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas, and several other high-impact All-Stars.

In addition, the Golden State Valkyries will have the chance to draft one of the Storm’s unprotected players on Friday’s expansion draft.

Regardless, Loyd’s presumed exit from Seattle serves the first player-related move of the WNBA offseason — and it will undoubtedly alter the future of the organization.