SEATTLE — After 10 years in Seattle, Jewell Loyd wants to leave the Storm.

The six-time WNBA All-Star guard has a year remaining on her contract. But the only way Loyd would agree to stay is if the Storm fire coach Noelle Quinn, according to a source who wasn't authorized to discuss the matter but has knowledge of the situation.

The Storm have declined to publicly comment on Loyd's trade demands, but it appears they're going to stick with Quinn, who has a 74-68 record and is 3-6 in the postseason during her four-year tenure.

So what's next?

Will the Storm acquiesce to Loyd's request? If so, how would they pull off what could be one of the biggest trades in WNBA history?

Let's delve into the details and explore a few possible trade scenarios.

Rare Jewell

First things first: Though it's common for NFL, NBA or MLB players to force a trade (cue former Seattle sports stars Russell Wilson, Gary Payton and Ken Griffey Jr.), these demands are rare in the 27-year history of the WNBA.

In 2017, former WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne requested a trade, which resulted in the Chicago Sky dealing her to the Washington Mystics for All-Star center Stefanie Dolson, guard Kahleah Copper and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft.

In 2014, the Connecticut Sun dealt disgruntled 2012 league MVP Tina Charles to the New York Liberty for Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Bone and the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 draft.

And in 2008, the Storm acquired two-time WNBA champion and two-time All-Star Swin Cash from the Detroit Shock for the No. 4 pick in the draft that year.

Other notable WNBA players who were traded in the prime of their careers include Sylvia Fowles (Chicago to Minnesota, 2015), Lindsay Whalen (Connecticut to Minnesota, 2010), Katie Smith (Minnesota to Detroit, 2005) and Becky Hammon (New York to San Antonio, 2007).

WNBA trade guidelines 101

Though blockbuster WNBA deals are atypical, trading for star players is easier due to less-stringent collective bargaining agreement rules, unlike the NBA.

For instance, the WNBA doesn't require trades to match incoming and outgoing salaries.

Example No. 1: In 2020 the Dallas Wings unloaded All-Star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith to the Phoenix Mercury for the fifth and seventh picks in the 2020 draft and a 2021 first-round pick.

Still, any possible suitor interested in Loyd must be able to absorb her 2025 guaranteed supermax salary of $249,032, which won't be easy for most teams without significant roster realignment.

And though it might be easier to execute trades in the WNBA, there are not many deals in the newly expanded 13-team league simply because there are not many trading partners relative to the other leagues.

Next season, the league salary cap increases to $1.5 million per team. Also, WNBA teams can't include cash or any other compensation in trades.

Core two?

Last season, the Storm's so-called super team was flush with a quartet of stars dubbed the "Core Four," which included Loyd, Diggins-Smith, Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor.

Following Loyd's trade demand and Ogwumike's uncertain future due to her unrestricted free-agent status, Seattle's rebuild begins with Diggins-Smith and Magbegor, who have a year remaining on their guaranteed deals.

The Storm's other players with non-guaranteed contracts include: second-year wing Jordan Horston, rookie guard Nika Muhl (who will miss the 2025 season after a knee injury) and forward Mackenzie Holmes, a 2024 third-round pick who sat out last season due to a knee injury.

General manager Talisa Rhea must replenish a depleted roster that finished 25-15 last season and guide the Storm during one of the most turbulent periods in their history.

Bringing back Ogwumike and forward Gabby Williams are good places to start. During exit interviews, they expressed a fondness for the franchise, and Quinn said re-signing them were top offseason priorities.

However, it remains to be seen how Loyd's possible departure would impact those decisions.

Additionally, there's no urgency to return unrestricted free agents Mercedes Russell, Sami Whitcomb, Victoria Vivians and Joyner Holmes, and the Storm are expected to revamp a supporting cast that underperformed last season.

Chi-Town shake-up

For years Loyd, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood, Ill., has been linked to the Sky. In 2023 she considered joining her hometown team but told The Seattle Times "the timing wasn't right."

Well, the timing might be better now.

After one year at the helm and a disappointing 13-27 finish, the Sky surprisingly fired coach Teresa Weatherspoon to the dismay of several Sky players. They replaced her with first-time head coach and former Las Vegas Aces assistant Tyler Marsh.

Led by Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and Chennedy Carter, Chicago has a young and seemingly talented corps that's in desperate need of a veteran star such as Loyd. She lives near Chicago during the offseason and owns a Smoothie King shop in Skokie, Ill.

What's in it for the Storm?

The Sky could dangle Dana Evans, Michaela Onyenwere and Elizabeth Williams as trade bait, but Seattle would likely seek Chicago's two first-round draft picks next spring — Nos. 3 and 10 overall.

The Storm have the No. 9 overall pick, but a top-three pick could net UConn shooting guard Azzi Fudd, Notre Dame point guard Olivia Miles, USC forward Kiki Iriafen, LSU forward Aneesa Morrow or UCLA center Lauren Betts.

Seattle hasn't had a top-three pick since taking Breanna Stewart No. 1 overall in 2016.

Maintain the status quo

Let's say the Storm run it back with Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, Magbegor and Williams, and attempt to trade Loyd for a plug-and-play veteran.

It's a plausible scenario, but also somewhat unrealistic to expect similar results considering Loyd's extraordinary pedigree.

Quite frankly, there just aren't many guards comparable to the 31-year-old sensation who are in their prime and have her résumé: two league championships, a WNBA scoring title, a WNBA All-Star MVP and two Olympic gold medals.

Last season, only three players (Caitlin Clark, Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally) matched Loyd's career averages in points (16.9), rebounds (4.5) and assists (3.7).

It's highly unlikely these teams would part with their star guards, but the Storm would be remiss if they didn't inquire about the Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu, the Aces' Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young and the Mercury's Copper — Loyd's backcourt mates on last summer's U.S. Olympic team.

The next round of calls should involve 2024 WNBA All-Star guards Allisha Gray, Kelsey Mitchell, Kayla McBride and Ogunbowale, and they can assume Clark, an MVP candidate in 2025, is unavailable.

And finally, Seattle, which needs to upgrade a historically horrific 3-point shooting offense that shot 28.8% from behind the arc in 2024, should kick the proverbial tires on sharpshooters Marina Mabrey, Ariel Atkins, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Aerial Powers.

Trading Loyd comes with inherent risks, but she hasn't given the Storm many options.

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