On February 1, the Las Vegas Aces sent shockwaves throughout the WNBA as part of a massive three-team trade.
While the Aces lost franchise stalwart Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, they found an instant replacement for her in the lineup by acquiring shooting guard Jewell Loyd from the Seattle Storm. A two-time WNBA champion and six-time All-Star, Loyd ensures that the Aces remain a credible threat. With Loyd joining a core of A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, the Aces have four players they can rely on to put a game into their hands when the situation calls for it.
Playing outside of Seattle for the first time in her professional career, Loyd is embracing the opportunity to play for a championship contender in Las Vegas.
Loyd is excited to get started with her new teammates.
During the Aces’ Media Day, Loyd was asked what she was looking forward to about playing regular season games in Michelob ULTRA Arena for the first time as a member of the home team.
“Yeah, thank God, it’s awesome,” Loyd said during her in-person media availability. “It’s just so hard to play on the road. You look up, you’re trying not to dance to the music, not trying to get distracted, and there’s a lot of things. But here, you really feel, just, that energy, and you need that in games. You need that atmosphere to get that speed…and that’s how it always is here.”
“It’s loud, everyone’s engaged, everyone knows what’s going on, and it’s a pretty cool atmosphere.”
Aces fans are familiar with Loyd’s game, as their team has had quite the rivalry with the Storm since moving to Las Vegas in 2018.
In the seven-year span of the Aces playing in Las Vegas, they have met Loyd and the Storm three times in the postseason. The first encounter did not end well, with the Aces being swept by the Storm in three games in the 2020 WNBA Finals. However, the Aces evened the score with a 3-1 series win against Seattle in the semifinals of the 2022 playoffs, then sweeping the Storm in the first round of the playoffs last year.
Now, Loyd will be on the other side of the rivalry the next time the two face off, and she is excited for the opportunity to show Aces fans what she has to offer.
Elizabeth Kitley learning under ‘supportive and amazing’ A’ja Wilson
