LA Sparks acquire Kelsey Plum in a three-team trade, sending Jewell Loyd to the Aces, while the Storm get draft capital

With Jewell Loyd requesting a trade, there's an an entirely plausible scenario that could return Kelsey Plum to Seattle and into the Storm's lineup for next season.

In the three-team trade, the Storm are also acquiring the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft and forward Li Yueru from the Sparks, as well as Las Vegas' 2026 first-round pick, sources told ESPN. Los Angeles receives the 2025 No. 9 pick and a 2026 second-round pick from Seattle. The Aces receive the 2025 No. 13 pick from the Sparks.

According to multiple league sources, a three-team trade that would send Jewell Loyd to the Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Sparks and assets to the Storm is the first domino that needs to fall in free agency.

Right before free agency begins, the WNBA is getting a drastic shakeup. The Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm agreed to a multi-team deal that will see Kelsey Plum head to Southern California and Jewell Loyd to Sin City,

Teams have been allowed to negotiate with free agents since Jan. 21, but nothing can be officially signed until Feb. 1

WNBA free agency period is moving right along, and big dominoes continue to fall. In recent days, the Connecticut Sun have reportedly agreed to trade Alyssa Thomas to the Phoenix Mercury, while the Atlanta Dream have reportedly agreed to a deal with Brittney Griner and Kelsey Mitchell has re-signed with the Indiana Fever.

Oct 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) shoots against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half of game three of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Storm stand to gain the most long-term advantage if they are able to parlay this trade into landing UConn guard Paige Bueckers in the upcoming draft.

The Storm acquiesced to Jewell Loyd’s trade demand and are sending the six-time WNBA All-Star to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team deal that returns the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft, the Aces’ first-round pick in 2026 and veteran center Li Yueru,

Sunday's blockbuster trade sent Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas, Kelsey Plum to L.A. and possibly positioned Seattle to make a play for Paige Bueckers.