The WNBA is poised for a lot of movement in the next couple of years. But I don’t think the Mystics, given their reported ambitions, would want the Seattle Storm guard. And I don’t think Loyd would want to play in D.C. either.
Earlier this week, Annie Costabile of The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd requested a trade to another team. This came after Loyd reported to Storm management of workplace harassment by their coaching staff — and an external investigation found no official instances of bullying.
With a WNBA superstar guard now on the trade block, does it make sense to trade for Loyd if you are Mystics/Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger? For now, he is the one who has the final say, until the Mystics name someone to be the General Manager.
Why it makes sense for the Mystics to inquire for Loyd
Here’s why Winger and the Mystics should inquire for Loyd:
- She’d be the team’s top offensive weapon — Last season, Loyd averaged 19.7 points and 3.6 assists per game for the Storm. She has averaged 16.9 points per game in her WNBA career. And it would give the Mystics a chance to showcase her as a potential franchise player.
- The Mystics can try to make a case that they could and should be where Loyd plays from 2026 on — Loyd’s contract only lasts for one year (and nearly every other superstar). By having her, even for just one year, the Mystics can try to rebuild around a guard with her skillset.
- From a marketing standpoint, more people will go to Mystics games to see a star in a Mystics uniform — The Mystics’ growth last year was due to things that didn’t involve their team, like the arrival of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Loyd doesn’t have the name recognition of the first two. But she is an established premier guard in the WNBA — and that counts for something.
Why shouldn’t the Mystics inquire?
And here is why the Mystics may hesitate or not bother thinking about Loyd:
- Any guard they trade to get Loyd would be younger: Brittney Sykes or Ariel Atkins along with a prospect or first round pick would likely have to go to Seattle for Loyd to come to D.C. Perhaps they may also have to send Elena Delle Donne to Seattle as well. Loyd is 32 years old next year, so she’s at the end of her prime, even if she’s still in it.
- Winger is reportedly keen on blowing up the Mystics roster and building through the draft — Even though every WNBA team is more-or-less in the same situation in 2026, Winger is reportedly more interested in a Washington Wizards-esque deconstruction of the roster before figuring out who the building blocks of the next Mystics championship team are. I disagree with this approach due to the growth phase the league is in, but that’s another topic entirely.
- Loyd is from the Chicagoland area — It’s possible Loyd may be more interested in going to Chicago than Washington anyway.
- Hmmm. Paige Bueckers and her reported desire to NOT play for the Dallas Wings? — I doubt Bueckers (or her camp) would be seriously interested in going to the Mystics as a rookie without knowing who would be in the front office. But let’s assume for a sec that Bueckers is interested in the Mystics. If she is, the Mystics are likely going to have to trade Atkins or Sykes, the same assumed centerpiece around any deal for Loyd.
What do you think about Loyd’s reported trade request? Let us know in the comments below.