Amid a flurry of trades across the WNBA, the Indiana Fever re-signed All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell to a one-year supermax contract worth around $249,000. Sometimes an evaluation doesn’t need to be overcomplicated. Fever executives entered this offseason with the top priority of re-signing two-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell. Mission accomplished.
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, ESPN's Shams Charania, Ramona Shelburne, Kendra Andrews and Alexa Philippou reported Sunday, citing league sources.
WNBA stars Kelsey Plum and Jewell Loyd switch teams in a three-way trade involving the Aces, Sparks, and Storm.
Here is how the trade shakes out: Las Vegas receives: Jewell Loyd, No. 13 overall pick (via Sparks) Los Angeles receives: Kelsey Plum, No. 9 overall pick (via Seattle) Seattle receives: No. 2 overall pick (via Sparks), Li Yueru
The Las Vegas Aces continue to retool the roster around reigning MVP A'ja Wilson. After failing to accomplish a three-peat, the Aces made a bold move in the offseason.
Plum helped the Aces win consecutive WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. Loyd, a six-time All-Star, requested a trade last month out of Seattle
The deal sees six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd go from the Storm to the Aces and three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum sent from Las Vegas to the Sparks, per ESPN. The Storm will receive the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and Li Yueru from the Sparks — who are getting the No. 9 selection from Seattle. The Storm will be picking at No. 13 via the Sparks.
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.
Teams have been allowed to negotiate with free agents since Jan. 21, but nothing can be officially signed until Feb. 1
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.
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