Jewell Loyd has requested a commerce from the Seattle Storm, in keeping with Annie Costabile of the Chicago Solar-Occasions.
Loyd, a six-time All-Star, has been with the group since she was drafted with the No. 1 total decide in 2015 after a embellished faculty basketball profession at Notre Dame. Alongside Sue Chicken and Breanna Stewart, Loyd received two championships with the Storm and was seen by many as a franchise cornerstone.
However, in keeping with Costabile, sources near the star have confirmed she desires out after 9 seasons.
Jewell Loyd’s commerce request comes on the heels of a tumultuous season
Loyd signed a two-year contract extension with the Storm in September of 2023, a transfer that helped entice prime free brokers Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike to the group regardless of 2023 being a shedding season. On account of this newly-established core, Seattle was seen by many as a contender forward of the 2024 WNBA season, rating fourth in ESPN’s preseason rankings.
However, the Storm underachieved, completed with a 25-15 document and shutting out the season with an 8-7 stretch earlier than in the end falling to the Las Vegas Aces 0-2 within the first spherical of the playoffs.
Loyd had essentially the most inefficient season of her WNBA profession, averaging 19.7 factors on 36% taking pictures, together with 27.4% from three.
On a workforce stage, effort — and lack thereof — had change into a serious theme in Storm postgame pressers.
“On this league, for those who aren’t able to play, you’ll get beat each f***ing evening,” mentioned Diggins-Smith after a loss to the Washington Mystics. “They had been able to play, and we weren’t — on either side of the basketball. They deserved to win if we’re going to play like that.”
And, after the Storm had been eradicated within the postseason, head coach Noelle Quinn once more introduced up the workforce’s effort, as she had a number of occasions all through the season: “I can be higher. Our workforce can be higher. Effort won’t ever, ever be a factor for us once more.”
Jewell Loyd’s commerce request comes on the conclusion of a workforce investigation
Past postgame remarks, the roots of the Storm’s struggles — and a described lack of effort — weren’t at all times clear.
However final month, Costabile reported that an investigation had been filed into alleged harassment and bullying from the Storm teaching employees. ESPN reported on Wednesday that an outdoor investigation into the reported harassment and bullying concluded with out discovering any violations.
“The Storm lately obtained inner allegations of potential office coverage violations,” learn an announcement offered to ESPN. “The group retained an outdoor investigator to conduct an neutral investigation into the allegations. The investigation has been accomplished and there have been no findings of coverage violations or any discrimination, harassment, or bullying.”
Costabile reported that “Loyd’s future in Seattle was contingent upon a perception that relationships inside the group might be mended.” Seeing that the investigation concluded there was no wrongdoing, the request got here just some hours later.
What does this commerce request imply?
Presuming that Loyd’s request can be fulfilled, Seattle enters an unsure offseason. Loyd, regardless of having a poor 2024 season by her requirements, was one of many franchise cornerstones and a key a part of the 2018 and 2020 championship groups. A member of the 2024 Paris Olympic workforce, she was nonetheless the WNBA’s sixth-leading scorer within the 2024 common season regardless of uneven effectivity.
Virtually instantly — presuming the commerce request is carried via — she turns into one of many prime obtainable gamers this offseason.
In the meantime, three of Seattle’s prime gamers — Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, and Skylar Diggins-Smith — are free brokers this summer time. Whether or not or not Loyd’s request will play a component of their want to re-sign stays to be seen, however the preliminary core of Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, and Loyd that many thought might carry a championship again to Seattle can be damaged up after only one season. If Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith select to not return, they’ll be part of a category of free brokers that features Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas, and several other different high-impact All-Stars.
As well as, the Golden State Valkyries may have the possibility to draft one of many Storm’s unprotected gamers on Friday’s growth draft.
Regardless, Loyd’s presumed exit from Seattle serves the primary player-related transfer of the WNBA offseason — and it’ll undoubtedly alter the way forward for the group.
