The Seattle Storm and All-Star guard Jewell Loyd came to terms on a contract extension, the team announced Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- A five-time All-Star, Loyd broke the WNBA all-time season record for total points in 2023, averaging a league-high 24.6 points per game.
- The 2015 No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year has won two championships with the Storm.
- Seattle has an 11-28 record entering its final game of the season Sunday, the most losses in franchise history.
- Terms of the deal were not announced by the team.
Building a future with @jewellloyd 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/3B6sNH4EeJ
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 9, 2023
Backstory
A key member of the 2018 and 2020 Storm championship teams, Loyd has taken on a leading role in Seattle following the retirement of Sue Bird and the departure of Breanna Stewart.
Loyd’s 911 points through 37 games are a WNBA single-season record, while her scoring average is the second highest in league history.
Loyd has made two All-WNBA teams and won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the Tokyo Games.
What they’re saying
“This has been a special year for Jewell and I’m excited it caps off with a commitment to continue to build her legacy in Seattle,” Storm coach Noelle Quinn said in the team’s news release. “Jewell brings a level of excellence to our team on the court and consistently proves that she is one of the best in our league. Her accolades and achievements speak volumes to the commitment she has to her game, and the Seattle Storm.”
Quinn called Loyd the team’s leader and “someone that we look forward to locking arms with heading into this new era of Storm basketball.”
Required reading
(Photo: David Becker / NBAE via Getty Images)
