This wasn’t the plan at all. The Seattle Storm had really high hopes for 2025 after an aggressive offseason that was full of calculated moves. For Skylar Diggins, it was “definitely the most talented roster I’ve been a part of in my 13 years.” It was missing Jewell Loyd, who had absolutely lit up the league just a year ago by topping the WNBA with 24.7 points per game. However, Ezi Magbegor was riding high after helping Australia take bronze at the Paris Olympics against Belgium. To cap it off, they made a major splash by signing Li Yueru.

The young center was coming off a huge 2024 Olympics. There, she had put up 17.7 points and 11 rebounds a game for China. It was a performance that made her one of the most savvy post-signings this offseason. At just 26, she had already crushed it in China’s WCBA, made waves in EuroCup with Galatasaray, and shown she could hang in the WNBA during her time with the Sparks. So, the potential was obvious.

Which is why, naturally, on paper, all of it made perfect sense. At 6-foot-7 with smooth footwork and great touch around the rim, Li seemed like the ideal complement to Seattle’s sharpshooters. Unfortunately, barely a month into the season, things are falling apart. Li has already asked for a trade. Now, everything was lining up for the Seattle Storm, until it wasn’t.

Everything that went down…

On June 4, 2025, Li Yueru made it official. She asked the Seattle Storm for a trade. Honestly, nobody was shocked. Because, after coming over in that big February three-team deal (which sent Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas), the 6-foot-7 center was supposed to bring some much-needed size and defense to Seattle’s frontcourt. But eight games in, she has barely gotten a chance yet. She has averaged just 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 9 minutes a night. It’s a far cry from her 2024 season with the Sparks. There, she had averaged 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14 minutes over 38 games.

The problem is that Seattle’s roster is already stacked. Ezi Magbegor is playing nearly 30 minutes a game. Over that, rookie Dominique Malonga’s getting her own minutes (4.3 points in 9 minutes), and veterans like Nneka Ogwumike (16.5 points, 9 rebounds), Skylar Diggins (16.8 points, 6.4 assists), and Gabby Williams (14.5 points, 3.6 assists) are all balling out. This team is built to win now, but that leaves little to no room for Li to find her footing.

This situation has gotten even trickier, when you factor in pressure from outside the WNBA. Sources say the Chinese national team expected her to have a bigger role this season. It’s obvious because for them, Yueru has always been a key player. And after she chose to stay in the WNBA instead of playing for China in the Asia Cup, her lack of minutes isn’t just disappointing for her personally. It has become a concern for her national program, and eventually for her home country too. So, her representatives reportedly started pushing for a move after her playing time didn’t improve in those first seven games.

What now for Li Yueru?

Now, teams like the Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces have emerged as potential landing spots for this international giant. The Wings who are struggling at 1–7, badly need a big and a reliable frontcourt production after Satou Sabally’s trade. And Li Yueru’s post skills, rebounding, and ability to stretch the floor would help them recover.

The Aces, meanwhile, are missing Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (out due to pregnancy), which leaves a major gap in their frontcourt. Kiah Stokes is starting next to A’ja Wilson but only putting up 1.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, and rookie Liz Kitley isn’t getting much run. So here, Li Yueru’s size, experience, and polished game could be exactly what Las Vegas needs to round out their rotation.

The Golden State Valkyries (another team with frontcourt needs) reportedly aren’t interested, even with upcoming EuroBasket absences. Why? That part is unclear, but it definitely limits Yueru’s options. But whether she ends up in Dallas, Las Vegas, or somewhere else, one thing’s for sure: Li Yueru offers rare size and pro-level skills that could help any team willing to give her real minutes. And if Seattle can’t make it work, another team might soon benefit big-time.

Worst timing for the Seattle Storm…

Li Yueru’s trade request isn’t happening in a vacuum. Rather, it’s adding fuel to an already complicated situation in Seattle. The Storm’s coaching staff has been under fire since November 2024. It all started when the former star Jewell Loyd accused head coach Noelle Quinn and her staff of mistreatment. The team ran an internal investigation that cleared Quinn of any violations, but Loyd was really unhappy with the outcome. So much that she demanded (and got) a trade to the Las Vegas Aces.

And things got messier recently when the WNBA looked into a complaint about a Seattle Storm assistant coach allegedly cursing at Loyd during a game. The league, though, ultimately dropped the matter without opening a formal investigation. Even then, between the unresolved tension with Loyd, the coaching scrutiny, and Li’s frustration over playing time, it is proving that Seattle’s locker room clearly has some issues to work through.