Report: Kelsey Plum to Sparks, Jewell Loyd to Aces Discussed in WNBA 3-Team Trade

A major proposed WNBA trade could hold up free-agency activity, according to Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Per Costabile, the move is a three-team swap that would send Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks and "assets" to the Seattle Storm. Until the trade is finalized, other deals "will not be made."

The current sticking point in talks is finding the "right pieces" to package for Seattle, via Costabile.

Loyd signed a two-year supermax extension with Seattle in Sept. 2023, but she eventually requested a trade from the team on Dec. 4. The six-time All-Star has spent all 10 years of her career with the Storm.

While the 31-year-old dealt with shooting struggles in 2024—she shot just 27.4 percent from three-point range—she still managed to average 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Plum hasn't officially requested to be moved from Las Vegas, but Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that there are "indications" she wants a "fresh start."

The Aces designated Plum as their "core" player on Jan. 11, which comes with a one-year supermax qualifying offer worth $249,244 before immediately coming off the books (via Callie Fin of the Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Plum made her third consecutive All-Star appearance in 2024, averaging 17.8 points and 4.2 assists per game. She continued to show off her long-range accuracy, shooting 36.8 percent from three-point territory while attempting a career-high 7.9 shots from behind the arc each night.

It's easy to see why her presence would be beneficial for a Sparks roster that features rising stars such as Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson.

Costabile noted on Saturday that the Storm and Aces are working with an "abstract salary cap" until the trade is completed due to the contract situations of Plum and Loyd, limiting their ability to make other moves.

In order for the offseason activity of both teams to progress, a deal may need to materialize.