Storm cruise past Aces, as Jewell Loyd returns to Seattle - ESPN

SEATTLE — Jewell Loyd came out hot in her return Sunday to Climate Pledge Arena for the first time since requesting a trade that sent her to the Las Vegas Aces, but the remaining members of the Seattle Storm ended up stealing the show in an impressive 102-82 victory.

Loyd's first game back in Seattle, where she played a decade after being drafted No. 1 in 2015 and won a pair of championships, was an obvious storyline. And there was emotion during warmups, when the Storm played a tribute video to the six-time All-Star who left as the franchise's third-leading scorer. Fans responded with a standing ovation after the video and again when Loyd was introduced with the Aces' starters.

«The fans have always been really great here,» Loyd said afterward. «You know, obviously, you spend 10 years somewhere you meet a lot of people and you have a lot of relationships. So it was nice to see my family out there as well. My dad came. It's cool.»

Although Loyd said she saw parts of the video while being celebrated by her new Las Vegas teammates, she wanted to avoid getting caught up in the moment.

«I really tried to focus on the game as much as possible and not get too emotional here or there,» she said, «but I appreciate it.»

On the other side, Seattle coach Noelle Quinn was delivering a similar message.

«The focus today was us,» Quinn said postgame. «It was the Storm vs. the Aces and we knew we were playing a very good team. We have vets in the room who have been in different types of environments. Our theme last game was discipline, and if we're talking about getting better, I don't think there was any drop-off in that. The focus remains us.»

In a rematch of last year's matchup in the first round of the playoffs that resulted in a