‘Just trying something:’ Aces waive forward, add new one in roster shuffle
The Aces waived reserve forward Crystal Bradford and signed forward Joyner Holmes, the team announced Wednesday.
The 6-foot-3-inch Holmes most recently played for the Seattle Storm, averaging 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 27 games last season. The Dallas Wings signed her to a training camp contract this offseason, but she was waived before the campaign started.
In addition to the Storm, who drafted her in the second round in 2020, Holmes has spent time with the Los Angeles Sparks, Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty, and even played four games for the Aces in 2021.
She has averaged 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds for her career.
The Aces navigated the offseason and will continue without a general manager, as team president Nikki Fargas said the team is settled with its current front office situation. When asked about the move Thursday, coach Becky Hammon emphasized the need for more size to pair with reigning MVP A’ja Wilson in the frontcourt.
“We just needed to get a little bit bigger,” she said. “Just trying something. Trying to find a fit that’ll work. But Crystal was great while she was here, there’s no doubt about that. She was a great teammate. She worked hard.”
The 6-1 Bradford signed a training camp contract with the Aces in February and survived multiple cuts to earn her first WNBA roster spot since 2021.
Although Bradford garnered praise from Hammon and teammates for providing a burst of energy, she appeared in only four games. She averaged 1.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in limited minutes off the bench.
“I had a great camp and a tremendous growth here with the Aces!” Bradford wrote on X after her release. “They went in a different direction and that’s just what it is. Hold the narratives because I am still a great!”
The worst feeling in the world is your parents calling asking what you do? As if you are in trouble. I had a great camp and a tremendous growth here with the aces ! They went in a different direction and that’s just what it is. Hold the narratives because i am still a great!
— Crystal Bradford (@get_em_cb) June 11, 2025
Bradford, 31, missed the season opener because of a league suspension for an old off-the-court incident. She said in a now-deleted tweet that there were “zero problems in (the Aces’) locker room.”
There are now 11 active players on the Aces’ roster, excluding center Megan Gustafson (lower leg) and forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (pregnant).
Gustafson’s return does not appear imminent. She was ruled out on the Aces’ injury report for Wednesday’s home game against the Los Angles Sparks after being seen on her feet at Tuesday’s practice but only working out on a stationary bike.
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.
