The Seattle Storm didn’t have a player selected in the 2025 WNBA Expansion Draft. Still, massive changes are expected following star point guard Jewell Loyd’s trade request.
According to Chicago Sun-Times Annie Costabile, who was the first to report the story last week, Loyd put in a trade request following the Storm’s revealing that they found no evidence of harassment or bullying accusation by the team’s coaching staff in which the six-time all-star was at the center of.
Loyd was at the center of the investigation after she filed a complaint detailing allegations against the Storm’s coaching staff, a source close to the situation told the Sun-Times. Loyd’s future in Seattle was contingent upon a belief that relationships within the organization could be mended.
Seattle Storm Bracing For Massive Roster Overhaul and Where Could Jewell Loyd Land Following Trade Request
In a mid-November story, Costabile wrote that Seattle hired a law firm to investigate Loyd’s allegations at the beginning of November. Costabile said, per a league source, that the Storm’s investigation was sparked by multiple players’ experiences. Costabile added that the exact precipitousness of the allegations is unknown.
But chemistry was perhaps at the heart of the issues. The Storm closed the season, losing seven of their final 15 games to finish with a 25-15 record, and Costabile said that the general theme of postgame conferences was about accountability.
“I will be better,” head coach Noelle Quinn stated following the conclusion of the Storm’s postseason. “Our team will be better. Effort will never, ever be a thing for us again.”
Jewell Loyd
Not knowing the details of what led to Loyd’s decision to request to leave the Emerald City. But with her decision, whether right or wrong (it is her choice and only hers), she possibly lost any chances of joining the lore of greatness that only two other Storm players have achieved. Not that matters or any bearing on anything, just saying.
Loyd is one of four players Seattle selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015. She has spent her first 10 seasons in Seattle. One of the top players of her era, she is a three-time all-WNBA selection (first team once), six-time all-star, and former rookie of the year.
Loyd, who has won WNBA titles with Season, is one of four players to play 10 years with the Storm and ranks in the top five on the franchise’s all-time list. She is second in field goal attempts, 3-point attempts, free throws made, free throws attempted, assists, steals, and turnovers. She is also third in games, minutes played, field goals made, points, and points per game.
Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson, and Breanna Stewart are the other players chosen as No. 1 by Seattle. Bird played her entire 19-year career with the Storm, while Jackson spent 12 seasons with the organization. Those two are the only players to have their numbers retired by the Storm.
Where Could Loyd Land?
Loyd, who had a season in 2023, averaged 19.7 points—the second-highest total of her career—in 2023 despite compiling her worst shooting slash line of her career, 36/27.4/88.1. It marks the third straight season she has seen a drop in field goal percentage.
Last season, Loyd scored in double-figures 35 times, topping the 20-point mark 15 times and the 30-point plateau on four occasions. She also compiled two double-doubles, averaging 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals.
Loyd signed a two-year super max contract with the Storm in September 2023. Therefore, the 5-11 guard has one more year on her contract worth $249,032.
Of course, Seattle will look to for the best deal they can get for Loyd. But ForTheWin’s Megan L. Hall listed Chicago, Golden State, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles as possible landing spots for the Chicago native.
Of the five, the Chicago and Golden State make the most sense. The Sky have plenty of cap space and own the No. 3 and No. 10 picks in the first round of this year’s draft. Regarding the Sky current squad, I believe Loyd would fit exceptionally well with Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese.
Golden State has the fifth pick in this year’s draft. The Valkyries also picked up some young talent in the Expansion Draft, including Monique Billings, Kayla Thornton, and Kate Martin. Loyd may be the face of the franchise for the rest of her career.
While I believe the Sky and Valkyries should be the top two options, Los Angeles is not bad. The Sparks have four 2025 draft picks, including the No. 2 selection. They also own the top pick in the second and third rounds.
I also believe Dallas, Connecticut, and Washington are possible landing spots. Dallas has some talent and is the top overall pick in this year’s draft. Meanwhile, the Mystics have young talent with Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards, and the No. 3 and 5 picks in the upcoming entry draft.
Seattle 2025 Free Agents
Loyd is likely not the only player from the 2024 squad that won’t be back. Seattle has six unrestricted free agents led by Nneka Ogwumike. Joyner Holmes, Mercedes Russell, Victoria Vivians, Sami Whitcomb, and Gabby Williams are the team’s other unrestricted free agents.
Not sure if any of the six players will return to the Pacific Northwest. But Ogwumike and Williams are the two that the Storm would hate to lose.
“They love it here, and they’ve expressed that, but at the end of the day, they are free agents, and they can have the pick, any pick, honestly, of a team,” Quinn told media during exit interviews. “So that’s why it was so important that their experience here was A1. I think they both expressed that they love being in Seattle, they love what Seattle is about, and so hopefully that was enough.”
Heading into free agency, Seattle has $717,377 projected cap space, as the Storm have just five players under contract. Skylar Diggins-Smith and Ezi Megabegor join Loyd as the only players with guaranteed contracts. Jordon Horston and Nika Muhl have guaranteed deals.
Seattle owns the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 draft. The Storm also has the No. 21 pick, No. 29 and No. 34.
