Absentee leadership in Seattle
By Christan Braswell
Seattle, WA - The Seattle coaching staff is under investigation for alleged player mistreatment, which was first reported by Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times.
“A law firm hired by the team is looking into accusations of alleged harassment and bullying tied to on-court performance against the coaching staff, a source said. The allegations stem from incidents that happened at practice and during games. An email from the law firm, obtained by the Sun-Times, showed that the investigation has been active for at least two weeks,” Costabile wrote.
Costabile also reported multiple players’ experiences sparked the investigation.
The 2024 WNBA season was filled with as many lowlights as highlights for the Seattle Storm, as they failed to gain a solid, collective footing with a group featuring All-Stars Jewell Loyd, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Nneka Ogwumike.
It’s now clear why the Storm did not achieve the success it envisioned at the start of the season, with their self titled “Core Four.” Clear dysfunction and a feeling of distrust led to players-only meetings to discuss alleged mistreatment without Ogwumike — the WNBPA president — in attendance due to a fear of partiality to the coaching staff, multiple sources confirmed to Circling Seattle Sports.
Central to the allegations is absent leadership on the court and the sidelines, which has been in question since the departure of franchise cornerstones Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart in recent years.
From legends in Lauren Jackson to Bird, Stewart, and Loyd, the Storm always had a voice that rallied players like no other. When Jackson retired from the WNBA in 2012, Bird and Stewart led the team to two championships in 2018 and 2020. After Bird retired and Stewart left in free agency in 2022, Loyd was thrust into a role she wasn’t responsible for previously — being a clear-cut leader.
This led to the Storm’s front office duo of general manager Talisa Rhea and assistant Pokey Chatman signing Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith in free agency in February, a source confirmed to Circling Seattle Sports. Their talents were the focus, but their experience leading their former teams was an aspect management saw as a necessity moving forward without Bird and Stewart.
As the season developed, it was clear that Diggins-Smith’s style of leadership wasn’t held in high regard by most except the coaching staff. According to multiple sources, Diggins-Smith led several outbursts laced with vulgarity during practices directed at teammates.
“I know I may not be everyone’s cup of tea in that locker room.”
When the Storm looked to add to their veteran leadership last offseason, disrupting what seemed like a promising organization on the outside looking in played its hand in 2024.
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Instagram: @CirclingSeattleSports Twitter: @CirclingSports Threads: @CirclingSeattleSports Tiktok: @CirclingSeattleSports Facebook: Circling Seattle Sports BlueSky: @circlingseasports.bsky.social 〰️
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Cover photo and photos in this article by Reid Alexander. Check out Reid’s portfolio by clicking here!
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