Jewell Loyd has requested a commerce from the Seattle Storm, in response to 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 choose in 2015 after a adorned school basketball profession at Notre Dame. Alongside Sue Fowl and Breanna Stewart, Loyd gained two championships with the Storm and was considered by many as a franchise cornerstone.
However, in response to 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 appeal to 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 considered 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 report 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 group degree, effort — and lack thereof — had grow to be a significant theme in Storm postgame pressers.
“On this league, when you 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 each 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 group’s effort, as she had a number of occasions all through the season: “I might be higher. Our group might 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 group 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 just lately acquired inside allegations of potential office coverage violations,” learn a press release supplied 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 throughout the group may very well be mended.” Seeing that the investigation concluded there was no wrongdoing, the request got here only a few hours later.
What does this commerce request imply?
Presuming that Loyd’s request might 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 group, she was nonetheless the WNBA’s sixth-leading scorer within the 2024 common season regardless of uneven effectivity.
Nearly instantly — presuming the commerce request is carried by means of — she turns into one of many prime accessible 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 may deliver a championship again to Seattle might be damaged up after only one season. If Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith select to not return, they’ll be a 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 could have the possibility to draft one of many Storm’s unprotected gamers on Friday’s enlargement 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.