Jewell Loyd Bio
Jewell Loyd (born October 5, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Known by the nickname the “Gold Mamba,” she played college basketball at Notre Dame before being selected first overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2015 WNBA draft. Over the course of her professional career, she has established herself as one of the league’s most dynamic scorers and a three-time WNBA champion.
Loyd has represented the United States on the international stage as well, winning gold medals with the national team at both the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. She has also competed professionally overseas in Turkey, China, South Korea, and Spain during WNBA offseasons.
Early Life and Background
Jewell Loyd was born on October 5, 1993, in Lincolnwood, Illinois. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and attended Niles West High School in nearby Skokie, Illinois, where she became one of the most decorated players in program history. During her four years as a starter, she averaged 24.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game while scoring 3,077 career points and leading the Wolves to a 93–31 record.
Her high school performance earned Loyd national recognition, including a selection as a McDonald’s All-American in 2012. This honor helped establish her as one of the top recruits in the country and set the stage for her transition to elite college basketball at the University of Notre Dame.
Path to Basketball
After completing her high school career, Loyd enrolled at the University of Notre Dame, where she played for the Fighting Irish from 2012 to 2015. As a freshman in 2013, she earned Big East Freshman of the Year honors and was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Year, signaling her immediate impact at the collegiate level. She continued to develop into one of the nation’s top guards over the next two seasons.
In her final season, she was named ESPN’s women’s college basketball player of the year as Notre Dame advanced to the NCAA championship game for the second consecutive year. Over the course of her college career, Loyd scored 1,909 points, the fifth-highest total in program history. Her stellar play across four seasons made her the clear choice for the top pick in the 2015 WNBA draft.
Jewell Loyd Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Loyd was selected first overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2015 WNBA draft and immediately stepped into a role alongside veteran point guard Sue Bird. She played 34 games with 23 starts during her rookie season, averaging 10.7 points per game, and earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. She also earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team in her first professional campaign.
In her second season, Loyd developed into a star, starting at shooting guard and averaging 16.5 points per game. She scored a then-career-high 32 points in a win over the Phoenix Mercury and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team. The Storm returned to the playoffs that year after a three-year absence. In 2017, she set a new career high with 33 points against Phoenix and finished the season averaging a career-best 17.7 points per game.
Seattle Storm Breakthrough (2018–2020)
The 2018 season marked Loyd’s arrival as a championship-caliber player. She was voted to her first WNBA All-Star Game and scored a season-high 31 points in a victory over the Connecticut Sun. The Storm finished the regular season 26–8 with the number one seed in the league, then defeated the Phoenix Mercury in five games in the semifinals. In the Finals, Seattle swept the Washington Mystics to capture its first WNBA championship in eight years, earning Loyd her first title.
After a 2019 season in which she made her second All-Star appearance, Loyd helped lead the Storm to another championship in 2020. The season was shortened to 22 games and played in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 20, 2020, she scored a new career-high 35 points in a loss to the Indiana Fever. The Storm finished 18–4, swept the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals, and then swept the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals to give Loyd her second championship ring.
Las Vegas Aces Era (2025–Present)
On January 26, 2025, it was reported that Loyd would be traded to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team deal, and the trade was officially finalized on February 1, 2025. The move paired her with one of the league’s most accomplished franchises and signaled a new chapter in her career. In 2025, she also briefly played for Mist BC overseas before joining the Aces.
The 2025 season was a memorable one for Loyd, as she won her third WNBA championship with the Aces, further cementing her legacy as one of the league’s premier players. Her transition to Las Vegas brought her into a championship environment and provided a strong platform for continued success.
Playing Style and Strengths
Loyd is widely regarded as one of the most explosive scoring guards in the WNBA, capable of filling both the point guard and shooting guard positions. She combines deep shooting range, particularly from beyond the arc, with the ability to score in bunches, as demonstrated by her 37-point performance against Phoenix in 2021, when she tied a league record with 22 points in a single quarter. Her competitiveness and confidence have earned her the fitting nickname the “Gold Mamba.”
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Loyd’s most significant achievements are her three WNBA championships (2018, 2020, and 2025), her 2015 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award, and her 2023 WNBA Most Valuable Player recognition after leading the league in scoring with 24.7 points per game. She was also named WNBA All-Star Game MVP in 2023 and has been selected to six WNBA All-Star Games in her career. On the international stage, she has helped the United States win consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2020 and 2024.
Jewell Loyd Career Wins
Across her WNBA career, Jewell Loyd has built an impressive résumé highlighted by three league championships, one scoring title, and one MVP award. She has also earned six All-Star selections and multiple All-WNBA team honors, underscoring her status as a perennial contributor to winning basketball.
WNBA Highlights
Loyd’s first WNBA championship came in 2018 when the Seattle Storm swept the Washington Mystics in the Finals, ending an eight-year title drought for the franchise. Her second title followed in 2020 inside the IMG Academy bubble, where the Storm again swept their way to a championship, this time over the Las Vegas Aces. She added her third championship in 2025 with the Las Vegas Aces, completing her transition from Seattle and reinforcing her reputation as a winner at every stop.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her WNBA success, Loyd has played professionally overseas in Turkey, China, South Korea, and Spain, suiting up for Galatasaray, the Shanxi Flame, Guri KDB Life Winnus, Botaş SK, and Perfumerías Avenida during WNBA offseasons. She also joined the inaugural 2025 season of Unrivaled, a women’s 3-on-3 league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. With the United States national team, she has captured gold medals at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics as well as the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Australia.
Jewell Loyd Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jewell Loyd was raised in the Chicago suburb of Lincolnwood, Illinois, where she developed her love for basketball at a young age. Her high school career at Niles West, located in nearby Skokie, helped launch her journey to becoming one of the top players in the country. Throughout her career, she has carried her family and community with her as she has risen to prominence in the sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a major new chapter for Jewell Loyd, beginning with her high-profile trade to the Las Vegas Aces in early February. The move paired her with one of the WNBA’s most successful recent franchises and immediately elevated expectations for her individual performance and team success. In 2025, she also had a brief overseas stint with Mist BC before focusing on her Aces campaign.
On the court, Loyd continued to play at a high level, providing scoring punch and veteran leadership to the Aces’ roster. Her championship pedigree and scoring ability made her a natural fit for a team built to compete for titles. By the end of the 2025 season, she had added a third WNBA championship to her résumé, further cementing her place among the league’s elite players.
