The Seattle Storm has undergone significant changes over the last few years. After Brenna Stewart joined the New York Liberty as a free agent, Arashi signed Nuneka Oguumike and Skyler Diggins. Notably, Jewel Lloyd, one of the team’s key players, requested a trade prior to the 2025 season and quickly departed. Following ten years with the Storm, she was traded to Las Vegas, but not before she publicly criticized the team’s staff. There were allegations of bullying and harassment, prompting the team to hire external law firms to investigate these claims.
Shortly after, Arashi announced that their investigation found “no discovery of policy violations, discrimination, harassment, or bullying.” Lloyd had previously indicated on a podcast that she had instructed her agents to send her to a team that she favored.
In a recent tweet, Loyd expressed her shock upon learning that she would be heading to the Las Vegas Aces after her trade.
With Lloyd’s trade seemingly final, both sides appeared ready to move forward. However, a new chapter has emerged as Arashi confirmed another investigation into their coaching practices. This announcement coincided with Storm player Li Yueru, an international player from China, requesting a trade.
It’s worth noting that the two developments may be linked, though it’s unclear. Reports suggest that the request from Yueru’s representatives might have been influenced by the Chinese national team. Interestingly, Yueru has decided to remain in the WNBA this season, rather than playing in China, which indicates she might have a significant role if she skips international duties.
High expectations from national teams are not uncommon for star players. For instance, the French national team is known for demanding long-term commitments from its athletes, which is why Gabby Williams didn’t join the WNBA before last season’s Olympics and Marine Johannes opted out of playing entirely in 2024.
There’s also the question of whether these reports regarding Yueru and the Storm’s investigation are interconnected. After all, it’s unusual for a player to request a trade so early in the season, particularly when the trading deadline isn’t until August 7th.
As of now, there haven’t been any comments regarding the current roster or Lloyd’s exit. This new investigation could potentially shed light on the issues from last year since it involves the WNBA and league security, unlike the previous investigation conducted by an external law firm. Notably, the league has been looking into the Las Vegas Aces as well, implying that such investigations may persist for some time.
