A blockbuster three-team trade shook up the landscape of the Western Conference far before the start of the 2025 WNBA season.
The Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces swapped high-level guards and picks on Sunday. Along with the No. 13 pick in this year's draft, All-Star guard Jewell Loyd was sent to Las Vegas. She will pair up with the unanimous MVP in forward A'ja Wilson and a 3-time All-Star in guard Jackie Young. Guard Kelsey Plum, the former No. 1 pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, was shipped off to Los Angeles with the No. 9 pick and a 2026 second-rounder from the Storm. Seattle acquired the No. 2 pick, a 2026 first-rounder from the Aces former Chicago Sky center Li Yueru, who proved to be a consistent option off the bench for Los Angeles during the team's 2024 campaign.
On the surface, it may seem like the Chicago Sky are in a better position to draft Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles.
As talented as Miles has shown she can be for the Fighting Irish, the Storm can try to address more pressing needs with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft. Seattle will have guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, a former standout for Notre Dame and a 6-time All-Star, under contract for the 2025 season. The Storm signed Diggins-Smith to a two-year contract last offseason. She played and started in 40 games for Seattle during its 2024 run, which saw it fall in the first round to the Aces after garnering a regular-season record of 25-15.
The Storm will have to make the decision of whether to bring back five unrestricted free agents, including forward Nneka Ogwumike. They can pursue a handful of talented options at No. 2 whether they choose to bring back some of their more reliable options or not, including a talented forward in USC's Kiki Iriafen to pair with center Ezi Magbegor. The Storm have three other selections in this year's draft and a 2026 first-round selection from the Sparks.
The Sky, who hold the No. 3 and No. 10 picks in this year's draft, are in need of adding extra guard talent to pair with their sophomore big duo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Miles can be a needed fit next to the budding bigs should she fall to them at No. 3. While their draft selections won't immediately address some of their biggest needs, having two all-around young guards can help the squad build a strong foundation before they enter a pivotal year for the Sky and the WNBA.
Still, it doesn't make the move a certainty.
Diggins-Smith will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, giving the Storm more of a need to add a younger guard for the future should she sign with another squad. The former Notre Dame guard had high praise for Miles on a recent episode of Unapologetically Angel, saying she would fit well on teams who need extra point guards or people who can handle the ball.
Diggins-Smith also hyped up guard Sonia Citron. She cited her defense, height and consistency as reasons to look out for the senior guard.
"I love (Citron)," Diggins-Smith continued. "You know what you're going to get from her when you put her out on the floor. Every night, she is going to be this person."
Citron could be a reasonable selection for either the Storm or the Sky in the top 3. She has been a reliable guard for the No. 3-ranked Fighting Irish, who haven't lost a game since November behind the combined efforts of their elite guard trio. Either way, the Sky are in good hands should they choose to keep their No. 3 pick.