Jewell Loyd prepares to face her former team, the Seattle Storm, in the WNBA playoffs. After a contentious split, Loyd, now with the Las Vegas Aces, expresses peace and focus. The Aces are looking to win the WNBA Championship, and Loyd is ready to help her team.
Jewell Loyd exudes a sense of calm as she gears up for a highly anticipated first-round playoff series. Her Las Vegas Aces are set to face off against her former team, the Seattle Storm, a matchup filled with personal history and competitive fire. The series kicks off on Sunday, promising an intense battle between two of the WNBA's top contenders.
Loyd's journey with the Storm spanned ten seasons, a period marked by significant achievements, including two championship titles secured after she was drafted in 2015. However, her departure from Seattle earlier this year was far from amicable, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this playoff encounter.
The Aces' dominant sweep of the Storm in last year's first round set the stage for Loyd's accusations against Seattle's coaching staff. She alleged harassment and bullying during the offseason, leading her to request a trade. An independent investigation, however, found no evidence to support her claims, further complicating the narrative surrounding her exit.
Despite the off-court drama, Loyd has been a key contributor to the Aces' success. In their recent 103-75 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks, she showcased her scoring prowess with 21 points, including an impressive seven 3-pointers, helping Las Vegas secure their 16th consecutive win. She is now fully focused on helping the team win the WNBA Championship and is not distracted by off-court issues.
The WNBA posted the playoff bracket on their X account:
The official bracket for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs presented by @Google is set
Round 1 begins Sunday, September 14! pic.twitter.com/h591q7gCt1
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 12, 2025
“As the season’s gone on, it’s just basketball, right? I’ve settled that. It doesn’t feel like anything. I’m at peace with everything,” Loyd said, reflecting on her mindset heading into the playoffs. This is the mindset that has made her one of the best players in the world and is why she has been so successful throughout her career.
She added, “The first time I went back [to Seattle], it was a little weird. Being a vet in this league, I understand you go through ups and downs. Here with the Aces, people see my value. They see who I am, my character and my reputation. I’m way more than just a basketball player here. I feel like I can be myself.” This has also helped her settle well into the team and she is now playing her best basketball.
Loyd's willingness to adapt and prioritize the team's success has been evident in her decision to shift from a starting role to coming off the bench in July, a move she proposed to coach Becky Hammon. This unselfish act underscores her commitment to the Aces' championship aspirations.
Hammon lauded Loyd's team-first attitude, stating, “For someone with her resume, it’s almost unheard of. She’s been one of my easiest players to coach. She wants to do anything, whatever it takes to win, including moving to the bench.” Her leadership and experience have made her a great asset to the team and the Aces are the favorites to win it all this year.
In anticipation of Sunday's game, the Storm acknowledge the challenge Loyd poses. Storm guard Skylar Diggins commented, “You see how electric players can be off the bench. We all know Jewell can shoot the basketball. We definitely have to defend the 3-point line.” The Storm will need to find a way to stop her if they are to have any chance of winning the series.
The opening day of the WNBA playoffs features a series of compelling matchups. The Minnesota Lynx will face the Golden State Valkyries, while the Atlanta Dream will take on the Indiana Fever. The Phoenix Mercury are set to battle the New York Liberty, rounding out a day of high-stakes basketball action.