WNBA offseason trade grades 2025: Winners and losers

The 2025 WNBA offseason has been marked by star motion. 4 former All-WNBA picks from the final three seasons have already modified groups by way of commerce this offseason, with extra probably to come back.

The Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm kicked issues off Sunday with a reported three-team commerce sending Jewell Loyd to the Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Sparks by way of sign-and-trade and a bundle of draft picks headlined by the No. 2 choose in April’s WNBA draft to the Storm.

On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury made a blockbuster deal to land Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun two seasons after she completed because the runner-up in MVP voting. Three days later, the Mercury paired Thomas with Satou Sabally — each All-WNBA First Crew picks in 2023 — by putting one other sign-and-trade deal involving the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever.

Which groups bought the higher of those offers? How do the strikes influence the remainder of the WNBA and what else we’ll see in free company? ESPN breaks down all of the implications in our commerce grades.

Wings commerce Sabally to Phoenix in three-team deal

Mercury get: Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown, Sevgi Uzun
Wings get: NaLyssa Smith, Tyasha Harris, Kiki Herbert Harrigan, No. 8 choose in 2025 draft
Fever get: Sophie Cunningham, No. 19 choose in 2025 draft

Regardless of saying farewell to Brittney Griner (who agreed to signal with the Atlanta Dream earlier this week) and probably Diana Taurasi (who has but to announce a call on whether or not to retire), the Mercury will boast one of many WNBA’s most star-studded rosters in 2025.

Having already landed one of the best participant to vary groups this offseason in Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix on Friday agreed to a different sign-and-trade that provides Satou Sabally. Add in Kahleah Copper, who was traded to Phoenix final offseason, and the Mercury now boast three gamers chosen All-WNBA over the past two years, all of them acquired by way of commerce because the franchise employed Nick U’Ren as common supervisor and Nate Tibbetts as head coach previous to the 2024 season.

As soon as Sabally selected Phoenix over the New York Liberty, the opposite group she met with, the Mercury have been in a position to make a remarkably favorable deal even by the requirements of sign-and-trades involving core gamers. Phoenix gave up guard Tyasha Harris — acquired alongside Thomas within the deal made earlier within the week — ahead Sophie Cunningham, the reserved rights to free agent Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and a second-round choose in change for a 26-year-old All-Star (Sabally) plus heart Kalani Brown and the reserved rights to protect Sevgi Uzun.

Actually, Cunningham was powerful to surrender for the Mercury, who’ve seen her develop from a second-round choose into a daily starter over the previous three seasons. Cunningham was beloved within the Valley, and her $100,000 contract (via HerHoopStats.com salary data) made her an ideal worth on a group in want of them. Nonetheless, for Phoenix to land each Sabally and Thomas whereas giving up solely a single first-round choose (No. 12 total) is a putting distinction to the Los Angeles Sparks swapping down from No. 2 to No. 9 as a part of their sign-and-trade deal for Kelsey Plum earlier within the week.

To some extent, the Mercury most likely benefited from their lack of tradeable draft picks. As a result of their 2026 first-round choose is headed to the Chicago Sky from the Copper deal, Phoenix could not commerce one other first-rounder outright. A swap of picks in 2027 would have had comparatively minimal worth to the Wings, although it might have been helpful for the Fever.

Past getting Sabally, I am impressed by the Mercury nabbing heart Kalani Brown on this deal. She has one of many WNBA’s greatest contracts. Guard Lexie Brown (no relation) is the one different veteran participant signed by way of 2026, when the league’s wage cap is anticipated to leap due to new nationwide TV offers and a brand new collective bargaining settlement (CBA). By that time, Brown’s $132,500 contract could possibly be lower than the veteran’s minimal.

Though the celebrities can be totally different, Phoenix nonetheless figures to be top-heavy when it comes to wage in 2025. Pending attainable reductions taken by Sabally and Thomas, the Mercury might have three gamers on the WNBA’s supermax wage, which might take up almost half the league’s laborious wage cap. Phoenix could have room to supply one other max, probably to Thomas’ fiancee DeWanna Bonner, however in that situation the Mercury can be counting on quite a few minimal salaries to fill out the bench with out the advantage of any remaining draft picks.

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The perfect of Satou Sabally’s 2024 season

Look again at a few of Satou Sabally’s greatest performs of 2024 after her introduced commerce to the Mercury.

Reserved rights to Uzun could possibly be vital in that regard. A EuroLeague veteran, Uzun began 19 video games as a WNBA rookie at age 26 final season however shot simply 42% on 2s and 24% on 3s. If Uzun performs a big function, probably as Phoenix’s start line guard relying how Thomas is used, she’ll need to be extra correct from the sphere.

Earlier than the Mercury fill out their roster, I think a scarcity of depth might make it troublesome for them to maximise their star energy in 2025. I do not suppose they will be within the WNBA’s high tier of contenders alongside the Aces, Minnesota Lynx and Liberty. For us to even think about that chance after three consecutive below-.500 finishes is nonetheless testomony to what Phoenix has achieved this offseason.

Past that, the Mercury are setting themselves up for 2026 and past. As we have seen with Nneka Ogwumike re-signing with the Seattle Storm after becoming a member of them on a one-year deal in free company final offseason, there is a profit to incumbency though Sabally and Thomas are prone to be free brokers once more subsequent 12 months alongside Copper. For now, Phoenix might additionally use the core designation on Sabally once more subsequent offseason, although that is topic to CBA negotiations.

Finally, if you may get Sabally and Thomas with out giving up your star participant, you do what it takes to make it occur. To their credit score, the Mercury pulled that off.

Basically, we are able to consider this as two separate trades by the Wings, certainly one of which I preferred much more than the opposite. Getting Cunningham, Harris, the rights to Herbert Harrigan and the No. 19 choose for Brown, Sabally and the rights to Uzun is weak return for a core commerce. I do not suppose Cunningham is considerably extra useful than Natasha Cloud, who went to the Solar with a greater choose (No. 12) for Thomas. Luckily, Dallas was in a position to flip Cunningham and the No. 19 choose to Indiana in change for NaLyssa Smith and the No. 8 choose, making the general deal way more favorable.

Simply how properly this commerce works for the Wings will rely largely on Smith’s improvement. The No. 2 choose in 2022, Smith completed third in Rookie of the 12 months voting and averaged 15.5 PPG and 9.2 RPG in 12 months 2. Smith’s worth suffered final season, when her taking part in time and manufacturing dropped alongside Caitlin Clark. Smith averaged simply 10.7 PPG and seven.1 RPG at an age (24 midseason) the place she needs to be bettering.

Even earlier than 2024, a few of Smith’s worth pale when digging past her scoring and rebounding averages. Smith is not a very environment friendly scorer as a result of she shoots few 3s (14-of-48 final season) and is only a 62% profession foul shooter. Of the 107 WNBA gamers who tried no less than 100 pictures in 2024, Smith ranked twenty eighth by capturing 48% from the sphere however simply forty ninth with a .520 true capturing share, which components in whole effectivity throughout all pictures.

Past that, Smith hasn’t made a constant influence on the defensive finish. She tripled her steal and block charges final season, going from 0.6 per recreation mixed in 2023 to 1.8, however defensive considerations have been the largest motive Smith logged simply 13 whole minutes within the Fever’s first-round sweep by the hands of the Connecticut Sun.

Moreover banking on Smith bettering, Dallas may also be hoping to get her some assistance on the defensive finish. Per league sources, the Wings are in pursuit of Connecticut restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington, Smith’s girlfriend and former teammate at close by Baylor. Carrington, an All-Defensive first group choose in 2024, can be an infinite assist to a Dallas group that completed final in defensive score.

It is attainable the Wings might make the most of the No. 8 choose in a proposal to the Solar for Carrington, who’s prone to transfer by way of sign-and-trade as a result of the CBA stipulates that every one supply sheets to restricted free brokers should be a minimal of two years. Signing a two-year deal would take Carrington out of the working for a much bigger elevate as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

This commerce additionally brings Harris again to Dallas, the place she was drafted in 2020 and performed her first three seasons earlier than being traded to Connecticut. Harris blossomed right into a starter final season, making 40% of her 3s and averaging a career-high 10.5 PPG. On a worth contract for $100,000 in 2025, Harris might slot in as a backup level guard if the Wings draft both Paige Bueckers or Olivia Miles with the No. 1 choose however is absolutely able to beginning if Dallas does not find yourself with a rookie on the place.

It is simple to see the Fever’s logic right here. Including Natasha Howard, who reportedly agreed to signal with Indiana earlier on Friday, would have moved Smith to a smaller bench function this season. And Cunningham’s capturing and talent to play both ahead spot make her a great match for Indiana. Nonetheless, I do not love this commerce from a worth standpoint.

Particularly, I dislike the Fever buying and selling away what could be their highest first-round choose shortly. If Clark and Aliyah Boston develop as we count on, Indiana can be selecting within the backside handful of spots of a primary spherical that may develop to fifteen picks beginning in 2026 with two growth franchises becoming a member of the WNBA. That the Fever needed to throw within the No. 8 choose to get Cunningham suggests the remainder of the WNBA apparently did not worth Smith as a top quality younger participant.

Does including Natasha Howard make the Indiana Fever title contenders? @RebeccaLobo thinks Caitlin Clark and the Fever are actually “one piece away” from coming into title conversations pic.twitter.com/s2JoXBxGUZ

— espnW (@espnW) January 31, 2025

On the plus facet, Cunningham ought to work properly as a working mate for Clark. A 38% 3-point shooter over the previous 4 seasons, Cunningham ranks thirteenth amongst all WNBA gamers in made 3s over that span. Cunningham might compete with Lexie Hull for a beginning spot at small ahead and in addition again up Howard as an influence ahead in smaller lineups with extra flooring spacing. Cunningham is extra harmful offensively matching up with energy forwards, however provides up measurement and shot-blocking capacity at that spot.

By advantage of rookie contracts for Boston and Clark, Indiana might signal Howard for the max and nonetheless have greater than $185,000 in remaining cap area to fill the group’s last roster spot. Relying on curiosity from free brokers, the Fever may wish to take that cap room into the season to have flexibility so as to add by way of commerce earlier than the deadline.

Jan. 28: Solar commerce Alyssa Thomas to Mercury

Connecticut will get: Natasha Cloud, Rebecca Allen, No. 12 choose in 2025 draft
Phoenix will get: Alyssa Thomas, Tyasha Harris

Phoenix Mercury: A

The 2025 Mercury are going to look a lot totally different from what we have seen within the Valley.

We have seen Phoenix add stars up to now 5 years, however to enrich cornerstone veterans Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. In 2020, that was Skylar Diggins-Smith, who helped the Mercury attain the Finals in 2021 earlier than her relationship with the group deteriorated. Final 12 months, it was Kahleah Copper, who bought Phoenix again to the playoffs after a 9-31 end in 2023 however not again to .500.

Including Thomas is totally different. If Griner (who’s taking conferences as an unrestricted free agent for the primary time) or Taurasi (whose return for a twenty first WNBA season is unsure) stay on the Mercury, they will be tasked to slot in round Thomas fairly than the other.

At floor degree, Thomas is an unlikely star for Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts’ offense, which is based on flooring spacing. Throughout Tibbetts’ first season, the Mercury went from making an attempt 32% of their pictures from 3-point vary in 2023 to 39%, third highest within the league.

Thomas hasn’t made a 3-pointer since her rookie season and is 2-for-21 past the arc in her WNBA profession. However Thomas is close to the highest of the league in relation to producing 3-pointers for her teammates. Thomas ranked second in 3s from her passes in 2024, behind solely Cloud.

Provided that Phoenix GM Nick U’Ren got here from the Golden State Warriors, the inevitable comparability for the way Thomas might play with the Mercury is prime Draymond Inexperienced. Like most versatile posts, Thomas has most well-liked to play alongside a conventional large, spending most of her Connecticut profession first subsequent to Jonquel Jones after which Brionna Jones (and infrequently each).

Lineups with Thomas at heart and most capturing round her — a la the Warriors’ so-called “Loss of life Lineup” that U’Ren famously suggested to head coach Steve Kerr through the 2015 NBA Finals en path to Golden State’s first title — determine to maximise her influence.

We noticed that in 2023, when Brionna Jones sustained an Achilles rupture with the Solar off to a 10-3 begin, forcing Thomas to play extra within the center. Connecticut went 17-10 the remainder of the best way with out an All-Star put up, and Thomas completed second in MVP voting after averaging 15.8 factors, 9.5 rebounds and seven.9 assists over the ultimate 27 video games.

Defensively, the Loss of life Lineup comp additionally works. The Mercury switched the second-most on-ball screens within the WNBA final season, per Second Spectrum monitoring knowledge, however have been restricted in that regard by Griner’s want to remain anchored close to the paint. In response to Second Spectrum, Phoenix switched simply 7% of picks when Griner defended the display screen setter, in comparison with 23% total. Lineups with Thomas at heart might permit the Mercury to modify as a base protection.

Who else fills out that lineup stays to be seen. Getting Harris again was key to creating this commerce work financially for Phoenix, which does not have any gamers remaining on rookie contracts. (The Mercury, who have been in win-now mode all through Taurasi’s later profession, final made and saved a first-round choose in 2019.) At $100,000 within the last season of her contract, Harris will not make appreciably greater than the No. 12 choose, and is a confirmed start line guard.

The Mercury are nonetheless in pursuit of one of many high different remaining uncommitted free brokers, Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings. Like Thomas, Sabally was her group’s core participant, that means Phoenix must strike a cope with Dallas if Sabally chooses the Mercury.

With the salaries of Allen and Cloud now not on the books, Phoenix has sufficient cap room to present each Sabally and Thomas the supermax and nonetheless signal DeWanna Bonner (Thomas’ fiancée who began her profession with the Mercury) to a max supply as an unrestricted free agent.

Till Phoenix fills out the roster, it is powerful to say how significantly we should always take the Mercury as title contenders. However including Thomas places Phoenix again in that dialog for the primary time since reaching the 2021 WNBA Finals.

Connecticut Solar: B-

The 2025 Solar are going to look a lot totally different from what we have seen earlier than. Coaches and teammates have come and gone, with Thomas because the fixed because the Solar received no less than 60% of their video games in all however one season since 2017. (And that one below-.500 season, 2020, noticed Thomas drag Connecticut to the semifinals.)

The Solar have achieved a exceptional job of remaking the roster round Thomas, together with shaking off the commerce sending former MVP Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty. However shedding Thomas and coach Stephanie White, with each Bonner and Brionna Jones unrestricted free brokers, heralds the beginning of a brand new period in Connecticut.

Particularly, Thomas’ departure suggests services points may lastly be catching up with the Solar. It is most likely no coincidence that Thomas wished out not lengthy after lamenting Connecticut sharing the group’s observe courtroom with a baby’s party through the playoffs. Like Las Vegas and Seattle, Phoenix has invested in a devoted observe facility for the Mercury, upping the ante forward of a 2026 offseason, when nearly each veteran participant of be aware could be a free agent.

The timing of Thomas’ departure is not ideally suited for the Solar, who gave up swap rights on their 2026 first-round choose within the deal so as to add Marina Mabrey from the Chicago Sky final summer season. By the way, Chicago can swap a first-round choose from Phoenix — acquired within the Copper commerce — with Connecticut’s choose, that means the Solar may not profit in the event that they fall into the lottery.

With that in thoughts, the Solar will certainly attempt to compete in 2025. Allen, Cloud and Mabrey give them three succesful starters, and Connecticut additionally has the rights to restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington. Though Brionna Jones is absolutely unrestricted after taking part in two years on the core designation, the Solar can supply her greater than any group to re-sign by way of the supermax.

Getting a first-round choose from the Mercury helps Connecticut exchange the group’s personal first-rounder, which additionally went to the Sky within the Mabrey deal. Pending the rest of free company, this can be a stable bundle that ought to permit the Solar to stay aggressive. Nonetheless, with out Thomas because the anchor, the chances are in opposition to Connecticut persevering with its semifinal streak.

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Kelsey Plum’s high moments from previous season

Try a few of Kelsey Plum’s high moments from her final season with the Aces as she has been traded to the Sparks.

Jan. 26: How the Kelsey Plum-Jewell Loyd blockbuster shakes up three groups — and presumably the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes

Aces get: Jewell Loyd, No. 13 choose in 2025 draft
Sparks get: Kelsey Plum, No. 9 choose in 2025 draft, 2026 second-round choose
Storm get: Li Yueru, No. 2 choose in 2025 draft, 2026 first-round choose

Who received Sunday’s blockbuster WNBA commerce involving All-Stars Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum, plus the No. 2 choose of the upcoming draft?

As reported by ESPN, the three-team commerce fulfills Loyd’s commerce request by sending her to the Las Vegas Aces to interchange Plum, who will be a part of the Los Angeles Sparks by way of sign-and-trade after the Aces used their core designation to take her out of free company. In the meantime, the Storm transfer up from No. 9 to No. 2 in April’s draft — which might facilitate a proposal to land the No. 1 choose from the Dallas Wings if high prospect Paige Bueckers of the UConn Huskies prefers to not play in Dallas.

Las Vegas Aces: B+

If Plum wished out, Loyd was virtually actually one of the best substitute the Aces might get. There’s nice familiarity on either side. Loyd has teamed with Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young for USA Basketball, successful gold final summer season, and she or he has performed extra playoff video games in opposition to Las Vegas than every other opponent — averaging 16.7 factors in these video games, higher than Loyd’s total playoff common of 15.7 factors.

Loyd additionally shares an agent, Jade-Li English, along with her new teammates Grey, Wilson and Younger. After the ugly breakup between Loyd and the Storm, which culminated in a commerce request final month, these ties may also help Las Vegas really feel assured Loyd will stick with the Aces past the one season remaining on her contract.

From a basketball standpoint, Loyd involves Las Vegas realizing she will not be the primary possibility on offense. Loyd’s spot within the pecking order in Seattle after the additions of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike was much less clear. Though Loyd remained the Storm’s chief in utilization price (29%), Ogwumike was Seattle’s greatest participant, incomes All-WNBA second-team honors as Loyd was shut out.

A part of the difficulty was Loyd’s adjustment in shot choice after having a much bigger offensive function in 2023, when Seattle had only one different double-figure scorer (Ezi Magbegor) and she or he set a single-season file for factors that Wilson broke final 12 months. Loyd’s utilization price went down taking part in alongside Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike, however she took too many off-balance jumpers early within the shot clock.

Per Second Spectrum monitoring, Loyd’s 39.8% quantified shot high quality — the efficient area purpose share we would count on from a mean participant on the identical pictures based mostly on location, sort and distance to close by defenders — was the bottom amongst all gamers with no less than 50 makes an attempt. Plum’s quantified shot high quality, in contrast, was 47.5%.

We do not have Second Spectrum knowledge for Loyd’s time taking part in alongside Sue Chook and Breanna Stewart, who teamed as much as win WNBA championships in 2018 and 2020, however Loyd’s effectivity was much better. Loyd shot 38% from 3-point vary and had a .541 true capturing share from 2017 to 2022, as in contrast with 27% on 3s and a .497 true capturing share in 2024.

By teaming up with one other MVP, plus two different Olympians, Loyd is selecting a task much like the majority of her Storm profession. From 2018 to 2022, Loyd’s utilization price was 26% of Seattle’s performs, in the identical ballpark as Plum’s 25% utilization final season.

Including Loyd’s supermax wage ($249,032) will make it more difficult for the Aces to construct their roster. Together with Plum, Las Vegas’ stars had repeatedly taken below-market extensions, that means Wilson was beforehand the Aces’ highest-paid participant for 2025 at $200,000, according to salary data from HerHoopStats.com.

Even with the pliability of non-guaranteed contracts for facilities Megan Gustafson and Kiah Stokes, Las Vegas will most likely have to decide on between including another participant at max-type cash or splitting that wage amongst a number of veterans. The latter situation might embody bringing again key contributors Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes, each unrestricted free brokers.

Flipping a 2026 first-round choose that has a good probability of being decrease in a 15-team league than the second-round choose they’re getting again this 12 months (No. 13 total) helps the Aces financially as a result of that participant can be on a modest rookie contract. Successfully, Las Vegas changed the group’s 2025 first-round choose that the WNBA rescinded resulting from impermissible advantages.

After all, we have additionally seen the Aces get reductions earlier than by advantage of free brokers’ need to play for a championship contender in a first-class facility. If Las Vegas can discover a approach so as to add Loyd and a high free agent with out sacrificing depth, this grade will bump as much as an A.

Los Angeles Sparks: B-

Including Plum is an interesting transfer for the Sparks that indicators their intent to snap a four-year playoff drought by accelerating their rebuild with an improve to their backcourt.

We will most likely hint the choice to expedite the rebuild to the commerce Los Angeles made on the eve of 2024 free company, buying the No. 4 choose (used on Rickea Jackson) from the Storm together with Kia Nurse in change for the Sparks’ 2026 first-round choose. With out that choose, Los Angeles would not profit from one other season within the lottery.

Giving up the No. 2 choose on this deal is painful for the Sparks, who’ve gone from dreaming of including Bueckers to their younger expertise by successful the lottery to having solely the No. 9 choose on this 12 months’s first two rounds. Nonetheless, given the problem of attracting high expertise with out a devoted observe facility, I can perceive why they wished to benefit from Plum’s curiosity.

Regardless of going 8-32 in 2024, Los Angeles already has loads of frontcourt items. Dearica Hamby is coming off an All-Star season throughout which she completed second in most improved participant voting, whereas Jackson was chosen for the All-Rookie group and No. 2 choose Cameron Brink was on monitor to doing so earlier than struggling a season-ending ACL tear in June. Veteran Azura Stevens is a fourth succesful frontcourt starter.

The Sparks’ backcourt was their undoing. Moreover these 4 gamers, eight of the opposite 10 Los Angeles regulars — all however Rae Burrell and restricted free agent Aari McDonald — rated worse than substitute degree by my wins above substitute participant (WARP) metric. Los Angeles hasn’t had an All-Star guard since Grey left for the Aces as an unrestricted free agent earlier than the 2021 season.

Enter Plum, who will seemingly be one of the best guard to vary groups this offseason. An All-Star every of the previous three seasons, she peaked as an All-WNBA first-team choose in 2022, when Las Vegas received the primary of its back-to-back titles. Presuming the Sparks re-sign Plum after this season, they will have a window to win whereas she’s nonetheless taking part in at an All-Star degree and their 2024 first-round picks are approaching their prime years.

To assist Plum, Los Angeles ought to proceed upgrading the backcourt. Plum did not miss Grey alongside her within the backcourt regardless of Plum’s capturing stoop to begin 2024, however her shot high quality improved after Grey’s return from a foot harm. Earlier than Grey’s first begin on June 21, Plum’s quantified shot high quality was 45%, in line with Second Spectrum’s metric, placing her within the thirty third percentile leaguewide. The remainder of the season, that improved to a league-average 49%.

It is attainable Julie Allemand could possibly be the playmaker the Sparks want. The Belgian level guard was set to affix Los Angeles after a February commerce however was sidelined due to an ankle harm that required surgical procedure. Allemand averaged 5.8 assists in her solely full WNBA marketing campaign as a starter for the Indiana Fever in 2020. Again wholesome after lacking the Olympics, Allemand is averaging 7.3 factors and a team-high 6.1 assists in EuroLeague play this season for Fenerbahce.

Alternatively, Los Angeles might nonetheless add one other max participant to Plum in free company. Courtney Vandersloot can be a logical goal.

Blockbuster WNBA deal: The Seattle Storm are buying and selling six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a multi-team transfer that sends three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, sources inform me, @ramonashelburne, @alexaphilippou, @kendra__andrews. pic.twitter.com/OlRb37RKIA

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 27, 2025

Buying and selling Loyd for a bundle constructed round draft picks most likely wasn’t Plan A for the Storm, who’re anticipated to re-sign Ogwumike and cored participant Gabby Williams to go along with Diggins-Smith and Ezi Magbegor as a veteran group hoping to contend.

Swapping Loyd for Plum would have been handy for Seattle, however Plum evidently wasn’t as excited by returning to the state the place she starred on the College of Washington as going again to her native Southern California. The Storm might nonetheless commerce the No. 2 choose to a different group for veteran assist — for instance, a bundle constructed round Ariel Atkins from the rebuilding Washington Mystics — however I believe getting that prime within the draft modifications the equation.

Touchdown the No. 2 choose all of a sudden places Seattle in place to make a run on the No. 1 choose if Bueckers tells the Wings she’d fairly return for a sixth 12 months of faculty eligibility than come to Dallas. Given their year-old observe facility, robust fan assist and historical past with UConn level guards, the Storm can be a beautiful touchdown spot for Bueckers.

Seattle might supply the Wings the No. 2 choose and extra first-rounders — together with the Sparks’ 2026 first-rounder, which has upside if Los Angeles misses the playoffs as a result of the WNBA lottery standings mirror the file over the previous two seasons mixed.

The Storm now have a league-high 5 first-round picks over the subsequent three years to supply for No. 1. (The Chicago Sky, who choose third, additionally maintain 5 first-round picks.)

If Bueckers goes No. 1 to Dallas, or one other group, Seattle would have its choose of Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Olivia Miles, USC Trojans put up Kiki Iriafen and French heart Dominique Malonga. None fills a direct want for the Storm — it is unclear whether or not any would begin as rookies — however every has the long-term potential to be a part of a younger core, together with Magbegor (25) and Jordan Horston (23) and the pair of 2026 first-rounders.

Changing Loyd’s supermax wage with the No. 2 choose, set to make $78,331, provides Seattle extra cap flexibility. Even when Williams additionally takes the supermax supply assured by the core designation and Ogwumike indicators for the max, the Storm might make one other near-max supply to a free agent.

There isn’t any apparent substitute for Loyd in unrestricted free company, however Seattle has the pliability so as to add a much bigger wing reminiscent of Clark or Aerial Powers or might attempt to add one other ball handler, with Vandersloot and Natisha Hiedeman as sensible choices.

As for Li, she’s an attention-grabbing match on a Storm group with the lithe Magbegor at heart. Unrestricted free agent Mercedes Russell, who’s unlikely to return given her friendship with Loyd, matched up in opposition to post-up facilities the previous couple of seasons. Now that function might fall to the 6-foot-7 Li, who acquired prolonged minutes final season in opposition to the Connecticut Sun (Brionna Jones), Dallas Wings (Teaira McCowan) and Phoenix Mercury (Brittney Griner).

Maybe greatest for Seattle, Li is a reserved free agent who’s prone to play subsequent season for the league minimal of $66,079. That is vital for a Storm group that can be attempting to stretch each greenback filling out its bench.

Barring a commerce for Bueckers or a veteran capturing guard, Seattle most likely will not have as robust a roster in 2025 as final season, when the Storm regarded like contenders coming into the season. However Seattle is in place to win now whereas additionally constructing by way of the draft for the primary time since taking Loyd and Stewart with the No. 1 choose in 2015 and 2016, respectively.