A whirlwind for Gabby Williams, from Olympic hero to a return with the Seattle Storm
By Christan Braswell, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - Gabby Williams is no stranger to being recognized in public. Touting an impressive resume, she has won at nearly every level of basketball.
At Edward C. Reed High School, Williams led her team to a state championship averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists as a sophomore. She went to UConn and played a key role on a two-time national championship team. After jumpstarting her international career with Spar Girona in Spain, they won the 2018-19 Spanish First Division. Williams later signed with Sopron Basket in 2020 and helped win the 2021-22 EuroLeague Women’s championship. Her winning ways extended to her stint with French team ASVEL who won the EuroCup and French championship last year.
Gabby has experienced the love and appreciation felt for her in abundance and she is grateful for it. But nothing compared to the joyous praise she received on the streets of Paris after a historic run with Team France in the Olympics, praise she wasn’t expecting as she didn’t grasp the magnitude of her team’s performance.
“Just obviously getting recognized more on the street, but I was expecting people to be upset with me because it was me who stepped on the line. But every single person that came up to me, every comment I saw was just like ‘thank you for that game’. The fans have been so supportive in France and it means a lot that we were able to touch so many people. Everyone saw how hard we worked I think and that’s what really touches me.”
Williams first competed for Team France in 2021 during Eurobasket where Les Bleues took home the silver medal. After leading the team with 17 points in the bronze medal game at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Williams led her team back to the 2024 Paris Olympics and won the silver medal after losing on her own last-second shot. Williams’ foot was over the three-point line and ended what would’ve been a miraculous comeback to defeat Team USA who hasn’t lost in Olympic play since 1992. The ending may not have been one Williams or her teammates wanted, but their efforts were championed regardless.
“We’ve been building up to it for three years. It wasn’t exactly the result we wanted. The dream was to get the gold, but I think what we did made a lot of people proud. I didn’t even realize what kind of impact it had on the country and the people, so yeah, that was an amazing experience. It was amazing to have my family there, all my family from Paris and the [United] States were there. So, just to share that moment with my loved ones was amazing.”
Back to the W
Williams took a break after the Olympics to rest and let it all sink in, but that didn’t last long as reports flooded the basketball world that she was looking to return to the WNBA to finish the season.
Reportedly, Williams signed with the Storm because the team won’t core her, thus allowing her to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
“We’re just going to focus on finishing the season, but I know that no matter what happens, they’ll respect what I want. I’ll respect what they want. What I like about this ownership and staff is that we can be 100 percent transparent with each other and I trust that.”
When reports of Williams’ interest in returning to the WNBA and what it would take to make it happen, rejoining the Storm was the most likely option due to the relationship she shares with ownership and the team. This is the second straight season Williams joined the Storm late in the season. Last year, she joined the team in July and only played in 10 games before suffering a season-ending stress fracture in her left foot.
Williams, who joked that she didn't think it was possible to arrive later than last year, voiced her displeasure with the WNBA’s prioritization rule which has left a significant impression on her young career.
League rules are as follows: “In 2024 any player who does not arrive before May 1st (or, with respect to unsigned players, finishing playing overseas) shall be ineligible to play for the entire season.”
There are many WNBA superstars like Breanna Stewart, Satou Sabally, and Jonquel Jones who openly criticized the rule, stating it inhibits their ability to sign lucrative deals overseas where top players are reported to earn million-dollar contracts.
“I’ve said it before, it shouldn’t be a blanket rule. I understand they want to have players here, but I think prioritization has to go hand in hand with our money we’re making as well. I don’t think it should be a blanket rile. If a team can handle it, they can handle it. If not, don’t sign European players or players that play in Europe. America is not the entire world. I know some people in a certain place that need to hear that.”
Williams was able to sign with the Storm because she completed her contractual obligations in 2023, making her an unrestricted free agent before signing on Tuesday.
When it comes to how she’ll be used in Storm coach Noelle Quinn’s system, Williams was excited about what was in store for her.
“Noey’s just said she’s going to use me to plug holes that we have. She said just be that kind of Swiss Army Knife; she’s calling it the French Army knife. Just kind of be that adaptable player for us. That’s what I like to do and it’s what I’ve always done here. ”
It was noticeable during her introductory press conference how often Williams referred to the team as “us” or “we”. Not that she isn’t a part of the team — she’s started 44 of the 46 games over the past two seasons for the Storm. But the organization is like family and home for her. The comfort Williams felt was unmistakable.
“I love our staff, I love my teammates here first of all. I like how we play and I feel like everyone here has a lot of confidence in me, and I think that helps me a lot and gives me opportunities to grow here, to get better as a player, and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”
Williams is active and will be available to play on Monday as the Storm take on the Mystics at Climate Pledge Arena, beginning a three-game homestand on August 26th. Seattle will host Washington that Monday with a tipoff time of 7PM PT against the Mystics, in a game that will be broadcast live on FOX 13+ / Amazon Prime Video in the local area.
Instagram: @CirclingSeattleSports Twitter: @CirclingSports Threads: @CirclingSeattleSports Tiktok: @CirclingSeattleSports Facebook: Circling Seattle Sports Bluesky: @circlingseasports.bsky.social
〰️
Instagram: @CirclingSeattleSports Twitter: @CirclingSports Threads: @CirclingSeattleSports Tiktok: @CirclingSeattleSports Facebook: Circling Seattle Sports Bluesky: @circlingseasports.bsky.social 〰️
Check out our previous Seattle Storm articles here.
Check out our previous articles with photos by Liz Wolter here, and her portfolio here.
Check out our previous articles written by Christan Braswell here, and follow Christan on Twitter.
Support the work of Circling Seattle Sports by checking out our merchandise!