All-stars teammates and Olympic gold medalists from Paris Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum change the WNBA team as part of a massive three team exchange at the start of the Ligue Ligue.
Loyd, who said she wanted to leave Seattle, will go to Las Vegas and Aces, where she will team up with MVP (and another Olympian from Paris) to A’ja Wilson. Plum will go to Los Angeles and join a team of Sparks ready to compete for a place in the playoffs, and Seattle will obtain the choice n ° 2 during the next draft of the WNBA. Constable Annie of Sun-Totes ChicagoSO ESPN confirmed.
Here’s how trade takes place:
Las Vegas receives: Jewell Loyd, choice n ° 13 in the general classification (via sparks)
Los Angeles receives: Kelsey Plum, choice n ° 9 in the general classification (via Seattle)
Seattle receives: Choice n ° 2 in the general classification (via sparks), Li Yueru
For a team of Aces who seek to regain their WNBA championship form (they lost in the semi-finals last season against the possible Liberty champion), they add more fire creation in the rear area alongside Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Loyd, double NBA champion and six times All-Star, collected an average of 19.7 points and 3.6 assists per game last season in Seattle. The Aces were concerned about the drop in shooting at 3 points from Plum last season, they are now betting that Loyd – who had a higher drop to 27.4% compared to 3 last season – will be able to find his form of shooting , where it pulled 35% or better beyond the arc, the previous four years.
Los Angeles is trying to return to the playoffs after having recorded the worst balance of the League last season. Plum gives the Sparks an All-Star leader to put alongside the rising stars Cameron Brink (back from a tear of the LCA) and Rickea Jackson. PLUM, double WNBA champion and Triple All-Star, collected an average of 17.8 points and 4.2 assists per game last season.
Seattle, which begins a reconstruction, obtains a very precious choice to relaunch this process. Paige Bueckers d’Uconn is considered a lock to become n ° 1, after that, it is much more open with the power striker of the USC Kiki Iriafen, the double guard of Uconn Azzi Fudd and the leader of Notre Dame Olivia Miles in the mixture.
The free agency of the WNBA started last week, although the agreements cannot be signed before February 1. There has been very little action so far, but this exchange could unlock things and we will start to see movement.