Jewell Loyd Ready to Face Her Former Team in the Playoffs
Jewell Loyd, star of the Las Vegas Aces, feels at peace as she prepares for the playoff matchup against her former WNBA team, the Seattle Storm. The first-round series will mark the second consecutive meeting between the two teams at this stage. The first game is scheduled for Sunday at the Michelob Ultra Arena. Loyd, who played ten seasons and won two championships with the Storm, was selected as number one in the 2015 draft. After a tense separation and her subsequent transfer in February, Loyd seeks to focus on the present. Last season, the Aces swept the Storm in the first round. Loyd alleged harassment by the Storm’s coaching staff, which led to an investigation that found no evidence of wrongdoing. Now, Loyd prefers to put the past behind her and focus on helping the Aces advance.This season, Loyd faced the Storm twice with the Aces. In the first encounter, the Storm won, while the Aces prevailed in the second. Loyd also reported that an assistant coach from the Storm insulted her during one of the games, but the WNBA took no disciplinary action. Loyd, a prominent player with two Olympic gold medals and six All-Star selections, has been a starter for most of her WNBA career. In 2023, she led the league in scoring with 24.7 points per game. However, at the end of July, Loyd chose to come off the bench, a decision that, according to her, would allow her to contribute better to the team. Coach Becky Hammon praised Loyd’s attitude, highlighting her willingness to give up her starting position. Hammon initially doubted the decision, but ultimately supported it, acknowledging that Loyd was right. Hammon and Loyd haven’t discussed much about Loyd’s past with the Storm. Hammon has highlighted Loyd’s ease of training and his commitment to the team. Since then, the Aces have secured second place, after a winning streak. Skylar Diggins, a Storm player, acknowledged the threat posed by Loyd, especially from the bench, and the importance of defending the three-point line.As the season goes on, it’s just basketball, right? I’ve figured that out. It doesn’t feel like anything. I’m at peace with everything.
Jewell Loyd
