Loyd was eventually dealt to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team blockbuster that netted the Storm the No. 2 overall pick ( Dominique Malonga) in the 2025 WNBA Draft (via the Los Angeles Sparks) and the Aces' 2026 first-round pick.

As good as they were in winning the 2022 championship, the Aces were even better in 2023. They ranked No. 1 in scoring and defense during the regular season and stumbled just once in the playoffs, in Game 3 of the Finals. A'ja Wilson got her first WNBA Finals MVP honor for her performance in 2023; she won again for the 2025 Finals.

It had been two weeks since the Seattle Kraken had played in their home city. In their returning win from a six-game road trip, the NHL team hosted three other Seattle teams.

The Storm are looking for a coach, but the biggest name on the market is no longer available after two-time WNBA champion Sandy Brondello reportedly agreed to become the first coach of the expansion Toronto Tempo.