When the Minnesota Lynx’s No. 4 draft pick in 2007 took over the head coach position, she already had a solid foundation. However, it hasn’t been a smooth sail off late on both sides, with allegations surrounding ‘player mistreatment’. One of the alleged issues now surfaced, only to be denied soon.

This time, Noelle Quinn is at the center of criticism, with player Jewell Loyd seemingly in the spotlight. According to a post by Roberta Rodrigues, head coach Quinn is being blamed for Loyd’s underperformance, which allegedly caused the Seattle Storm standout to miss out on a performance-based bonus from Nike.

Loyd posted an average of 19.7 points per game, falling just 0.3 points shy of the required 20+ points per game for the bonus.

As soon as the post went live, it started making waves online. With everyone demanding responses from either Loyd or Quinn, Loyd’s agent, Jade Li, stepped into the spotlight. She immediately denied all the allegations and stated, “I am not going to comment on everything you have posted, but you are posting lies. This is not journalism.”

The user, however, countered by claiming that all the information and allegations came directly from Loyd’s inner circle. The accusations against the coach state that Loyd was not given the minutes when she was in her best form. “Noey pulled her out when she’s hot. The quarter ends and she would wait 4-7 minutes to bring her back in,” the article claims.

However, Jade Li didn’t hold back after the user’s continued persistence. She denied the claims once again, asserting that she personally negotiated the contract and had the most accurate information.“This statement is false, and whoever you’re ‘talking’ to doesn’t have the correct information,” she added. Bonus or not, Loyd has managed to etch a good bond with Nike, using the opportunity to shed light on a cause earlier this year.

Jewel Loyd puts Nike partnership to good use

Jewell Loyd, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft, signed a deal with Nike that same year. “To represent Nike Basketball is a dream come true,” Loyd had shared.

Since then, the Storm standout has been thriving with Nike. In fact, this past August, she received widespread praise after she involved her best friend’s six-year-old neurodivergent kid to spread awareness on autism. Justice Swann helped design the Nike G.T. Cut 3 after Loyd expressed she wanted her edition to speak of her push the sneaker brand’s limits. “I [told them] the best way to understand me is to understand my surroundings and my people. I wanted to start with Justice,” she conveyed via Andscape.

It had a lasting impact as Loyd reveals many reached out, opening up about the newly acquired knowledge of possibilities with autistic kids. She also directed the proceeds towards a Swann’s summer camp focused towards neurodivergent children.

She debuted the pair this season, going on to average 19.7 points. It wasn’t her best and she takes accountability, but the year did give her something to cherish for a lifetime.