UPDATE: June 5 — There are actually conflicting reviews on whether or not or not the Storm are literally below investigation or not. Our protection on the most recent updates round this growing information story could be discovered right here.
Authentic story follows.
The Seattle Storm have gone by means of some cataclysmic adjustments over the previous few years, beginning with Sue Hen retiring after 20 years with the franchise. Quickly after, Breanna Stewart signed with the New York Liberty in free company, and the Storm signed Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins. The final piece of their Large-Three of the 2010s, Jewell Loyd, didn’t final lengthy after that, requesting a commerce forward of the 2025 season. Loyd was moved to Las Vegas after a decade of enjoying in Seattle, however not earlier than accusing the Storm employees of “bullying and harrassment,” resulting in the Storm hiring an exterior regulation agency to research these allegations.
Shortly after the Storm introduced in a press release that “there have been no findings of coverage violations or any discrimination, harassment, or bullying,” Loyd requested the commerce. She lately mentioned on a podcast that on the time, she instructed her agent to ship her wherever that will take her and that “it couldn’t worsen.”
Jewell Loyd revealed that she instructed her agent, “Simply get me out—I’ll discover a means. Bodily, mentally, emotionally, it may well’t be worse”. She additionally shared that she was fully shocked to be taught her commerce vacation spot was the Las Vegas Aces. pic.twitter.com/suZWD8QW2Q
— The Annie Room (@TheAnnieRoom) June 1, 2025
That a part of the story appeared to have concluded when Loyd was traded to Las Vegas, and it appeared each events have been prepared to maneuver on. One more chapter opens this week because it’s been introduced and confirmed that the Storm will bear one other investigation into their teaching practices, per WNBA insider Khristina Williams.
The information comes on the identical day that Storm participant Li Yueru, a world participant from China, requested a commerce out of Seattle.
Per sources: There’s at present an investigation being launched into the Seattle Storm teaching employees by the WNBA and league safety.
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) June 4, 2025
The 2 information bits could also be related, however additionally they will not be. There’s additionally some reporting that Yueru and her illustration’s request to maneuver her from Seattle is extra a request from the Chinese language Nationwide Group. Yueru is staying in america this WNBA season versus enjoying for China, and apparently, the federation anticipated her to have a much bigger position on the Storm if she weren’t going to be reporting for her worldwide staff duties, based on The Subsequent and Forbes contributor Roberta F. Rodrigues:
Can verify @Khristina’s report that Li Yueru has requested a commerce from the Seattle Storm. I’ve been instructed that a part of that is because of stress from the Chinese language nationwide staff since she determined to not take part within the Asia Cup to remain within the USA. They anticipated her to have a…
— Roberta F. Rodrigues (@robertawbb) June 4, 2025
It’s not unusual for worldwide federations to have excessive expectations of their star gamers, both. The French Nationwide Group is one other staff recognized for wanting long-term commitments from their gamers, a purpose why Gabby Williams didn’t come to the WNBA final season earlier than the Olympics and why Marine Johannes didn’t play in any respect in 2024. So reviews that the Chinese language federation needs their star participant to get extra run within the WNBA if she goes to be there usually are not completely sudden or outdoors of the realm of risk.
It’s additionally pure to surprise if the 2 reviews are related, since it’s uncommon to request a commerce seven video games right into a season. Even within the shorter WNBA season, that’s nonetheless pretty fast, given the commerce deadline isn’t till Aug. 7.
As of this story’s authentic publishing time, nobody on Seattle’s present roster has made any type of remark in regards to the present investigation, or actually about Loyd’s departure. However this new investigation is particularly being carried out by the WNBA and league safety, per Williams’s report, so whereas it could be related to what was occurring final 12 months, or it may very well be one thing new, however the large distinction is that the league is investigating them, not a regulation agency the staff employed itself. This isn’t the primary time the WNBA has investigated groups, and it additionally has an ongoing investigation into the Las Vegas Aces proper now that has been occurring since final season, so it’s totally potential this won’t be wrapped up rapidly, both.
