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The Sparks traded the No. 2 pick in the draft
and Li Yueru to Seattle. Los Angeles also received the No. 9
pick. The Aces got the 13th pick in the draft. The person spoke
on condition of anonymity on Sunday night because no official
deal has been announced.
Plum helped the Aces win consecutive WNBA championships in 2022
and 2023. She was designated as the team's franchise player on
Jan. 11, meaning the only way she could leave the team was via
trade. She averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists last season.
Loyd requested a trade last month out of Seattle, where she had
spent her entire career since getting drafted by the Storm in
2015. The 31-year-old averaged 19.7 points and 4.5 rebounds last
season and is a six-time All-Star. Loyd helped Seattle win two
WNBA championships in 2018 and 2020 as well as a scoring title
in 2023.
She was the league's Rookie of the Year in 2015.
ESPN first reported the trade.
Las Vegas still has more room to make pickups in free agency to
add to the core group of Loyd, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and
reigning MVP A'ja Wilson.
Teams could start talking to free agents this past Tuesday, but
can’t officially sign them until Feb. 1.
Acquiring Plum gives a veteran guard to the Sparks young core of
Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink and reunites her with her
former Aces teammate Dearica Hamby. It also brings Plum closer
to home as she grew up in Poway, California.
Like Loyd, Plum had spent her whole career with the Las Vegas
franchise since she was drafted first in 2017 when the team was
still in San Antonio.
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