Loyd, Mosqueda-Lewis Ink Multi-Year Extensions With Storm

Jewell Loyd

SEATTLE – The Seattle Storm today announced that Jewell Loyd, a 5-10 guard and 2015 WNBA Draft first overall draft pick, and 5-11 guard Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, the third overall selection in the 2015 WNBA Draft, have signed multi-year extensions with the franchise.

“Jewell is an integral part of this franchise,” said Storm President & GM Alisha Valavanis. “As we extend her contract, we are both excited for this season and her future with Storm Basketball.”

Loyd had a breakout season in 2017 on the offensive end, compiling a career-best 17.7 points per game to go along with 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per outing. She scored 25 or more points in nine games last season, including a career-high 33 points on 12-for-22 shooting vs. the Phoenix Mercury in the Storm’s regular-season home finale on Aug. 27.

With 107 points in the first five games of 2017, Loyd was a big reason why Seattle got off to its best start (4-1) since the 2010 season. She racked up 78 points in the first three games and went on to shoot 43.1 percent from the field in her third WNBA season. Once again, Loyd saw big jumps in her three-point shooting percentage, nailing 38.6 percent of her outside attempts, a vast improvement from her 20.8 and 30.3 clips in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

“Kaleena is one of the elite shooters in this league,” said Valavanis. “She brings a UConn pedigree and is a threat on the offensive end.”

One of three former Connecticut Huskies on the roster, Mosqueda-Lewis battled through an injury-plagued 2017 season. Despite limited minutes, she put up 4.6 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting. The former No. 3 overall draft pick at one point scored 13-straight points in a road loss at Connecticut on Aug. 8, 2017, and she has connected on 63 three-pointers during her WNBA career.

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As a rookie in 2015, Mosqueda-Lewis played in 27 games, averaging a career-best 5.8 points per game and scoring a career-high 19 points vs. San Antonio on Sept. 13. She followed that up with 5.2 points per contest the following season in 2016, notching double-figure scoring efforts in seven games.

The Storm tips off the 2018 slate against the Phoenix Mercury on May 20 during Opening Night presented by Swedish, with start time set for 6 p.m. PT at KeyArena.