Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd requests trade, WNBA expansion draft kicks off tonight

The GIST: From the soon-to-be 14th WNBA team Toronto Tempo’s rather quick name drop, to tonight’s expansion draft, to major news in Seattle, the W offseason headlines are flying fast and furious. How’s that for pace?

Golden State Valkyries to take part in expansion draft tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET: The league’s 13th team will start to flesh out their roster tonight, choosing up to 12 non-protected players from the existing WNBA pool in preparation for the squad’s 2025 season debut.

• Prior to tonight’s draft, the W’s 12 existing teams had the opportunity to deem up to six athletes as “protected players,” which keeps them out of draft contention. All to say, don’t expect to see any of last season’s high-profile stars up for grabs.

• Furthermore, the Valkyries may not fill every roster spot tonight and could instead choose to leave space for free agency additions and their No. 5 pick in the 2025 draft. Just the beginning.

Jewell Loyd requests trade from Seattle Storm: A six-time All-Star, franchise leader, and the No. 1 overall 2015 draft pick, Loyd intends to leave the only WNBA team she’s ever played for following an open-and-closed investigation into Seattle’s coaching staff.

• According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Loyd filed a complaint in September alleging bullying and harassment by Storm coaches regarding player performance during the 2024 season. On Wednesday, Seattle said the investigation was over and that no violations were found.

• Loyd’s trade request reportedly came shortly after the news and notably on the heels of the two-year supermax extension she signed with the Storm just last year. Stay tuned.