"I'm Just Getting Back to Me": Jewell Loyd Embracing Fresh Start with Unrivaled
- Erica L. Ayala
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 22
Ten-year WNBA veteran Jewell Loyd is finding peace this offseason. The innovative 3-on-3 format coupled with a favorable location– the greater Miami area– appears to be what the Gold Mamba ordered.
"Honestly, I'm just getting back to me. I'm getting back to peace and getting back to finding joy in basketball," Loyd told the media Friday night after dropping 34 points in the Unrivaled season opener. Loyd and the Mist fell to the Lunar Owls 84-80.
By her standards, 2024 didn't meet the personal standard for the Seattle Storm guard. After setting a single-season scoring record (939 points, 24.7 PPG) in 2023, Loyd's game average dropped five percentage points. Her 19.7 points per game in 2024 mark her second-highest in a 10-year WNBA career, but it wasn't good enough for the Gold Mamba.
"This is the first time in my career where I haven't hit my benchmarks. When I say career, I even mean, like, eighth grade, so that's a new experience for me," Loyd told Black Rosie Media during 2024 exit interviews with media.
Despite achieving her second-highest career average in points per game, Loyd's field goal percentage of 36% marked a career low, albeit just one percentage point away from her record-setting season.
Loyd also played limited minutes for USA Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite head coach Cheryl Reeve assuring the media Loyd was an integral piece for Team USA. The Illinois native has reportedly asked for a trade amid a tumultuous, albeit more successful, Seattle Storm season.
Loyd has made it clear she is focused on her Unrivaled team, the Mist, and will not address the forthcoming WNBA season. Through two games, she averaged 22 points.
Loyd enjoys connecting with family and her dogs when not on the court.
"I value my offseason. I value getting work in all those things, but I also value rest. You know, it's a long 10 weeks, a lot of different basketball, and getting ready for the W season. So when I'm not here, I'm relaxing and taking as much time I can off my feet,"
Outside of Unrivaled, Loyd has connected with her other sports passion, pickleball.
"Miami pickleball club is down here," Loyd told Black Rosie Media. "I went down there and played a couple of times. So I'm around. I'm always looking for courts in my off time and finding some people to hit with."
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Images provided courtesy of Unrivaled Basketball.
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