Seattle Storm Trade Center Li Yueru to Dallas Wings, Sign Mackenzie Holmes

The Seattle Storm traded center Li Yueru to the Dallas Wings after she requested a move to gain more playing time, as she was unhappy with her backup role in Seattle. Li, a 6-foot-7 third-year veteran from China, appeared in nine games for the Storm this season but averaged only 8.4 minutes per game, prompting her trade request. In exchange, Seattle received a 2026 second-round and a 2027 third-round draft pick from Dallas. Following the trade, the Storm signed Mackenzie Holmes, a 6-foot-3 center who had been waived last month and who could help fill the roster spot vacated by Li's departure. Holmes, a standout player from the University of Indiana, had missed the previous season due to knee surgery but showed promise in her preseason debut for Seattle. The trade reduces Seattle's roster to 10 players, necessitating another addition to meet WNBA roster requirements, while Dallas gains a key center to bolster their lineup amid EuroBasket absences.