Turning the page and embracing change for the Seattle Storm
By Christan Braswell, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Storm held a press conference Tuesday afternoon with general manager Talisa Rhea and coach Noelle Quinn to address offseason moves. While the team has made headway in filling out the roster ahead of training camp, it’s difficult to ignore the elephant in the room being the first time Storm leadership spoke to the media since trading franchise cornerstone Jewell Loyd.
“Jewell meant a lot to this organization. She built a lot with us here. Noelle and I have been part of a couple championships with Jewell. This is not to take anything away from anything that Jewell did during her time here with Seattle. I’m very appreciative of that. We will continue to be. We’re excited with how the roster has moved forward and excited for this year and what we are able to do with that trade.”
On November 15th, the Storm were reported to be under external investigation for multiple accusations of harassment and bullying by the team’s coaching staff, which the Chicago Sun-Times reported first.
On December 4th, the team announced that the investigation had concluded without discovery of any violations. Within the next hour and a half, Loyd formally requested a trade out of Seattle. With a short list of destinations, the Storm eventually dealt Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team trade that sent two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks. Seattle received the number two overall pick in the upcoming draft and Li Yueru from the Sparks, as well as Las Vegas’ first round pick next season.
“This whole process has been leaning on the people that have cared for me. At the end of the day I always want to get back to me. I want to have this joy about myself. I want to have this joy about the way I play and be around people who can elevate that. It’s easy to harp on the bad, but you want to have more goods days than bad days. I definitely have more good days than that.”
One reoccurring theme throughout the presser in Seattle was it’s brass expressing the need to turn the page and embrace change.
“We’re excited to talk about the upcoming season, the free agency period we’ve had what has been a busy and productive offseason for us, and officially turning the page to 2025 only a couple months away from the start of the season. We had two goals coming into the offseason. Resign Gabby [Williams] and Nneka [Ogwumike]. Two players that are critical players for us, part of our Core Four. Secondly, bring in players that are like-minded and complimentary to those returning players. We’ve added multiple players via trade and free agency that fit this mindset. We believe [they] will positively impact our culture in what we’re trying to build here.”
This new era of Storm basketball will be led by Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith. All-Star Ezi Magbegor plays a considerable role as the backline of the defense and key figure in Seattle’s interior attack. Yueru’s production will be relied upon off the bench. Guards Erica Wheeler and Zia Cooke were brought in on training camp deals. Alysha Clark signed a one-year deal. WNBA champion Lexie Brown was acquired in a trade with the Sparks for picks, currently playing on a cheaper deal through 2025 and 2026.
Outside of the expected moves in bringing Ogwumike and Williams back, Seattle missed out on top-tier free agents and reliable players that championship contenders need. Considering the nature of Loyd’s exit, what she accomplished in Seattle, and the gaping crevice in win-now talent, the leadership duo’s recognition of all three factors fell short. The page can’t be turned if the previous chapter isn’t completed. However, the belief in the coaching staff’s ability to push forward is steadfast.
“We let the process play out, and that was very important to us and the integrity of it,” said Rhea. “Second, we’ve been locked in with Noelle [Quinn] this entire offseason and its been very clear through free agency conversations that do players want to be here. They believe in what we’re building here in Seattle, they want to play for Noelle. The group that we have here is totally bought into that, so we’re very confident in Noelle and what she’s able to do with this group this year.”
“I believe the organization did the right thing,” said Quinn. Throughout this entire process, the communication level was tremendously high. I felt supported in a lot of ways and I know my staff felt supported as well. With anything like this, it’s important to take the right steps and our organization did that. Players want to come and play for me.”
If one thing is clear, though, the new phase of Storm basketball has chosen who will be it’s first leader since the departures of franchise greats Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.
Whether that and the fallout of Loyd’s abrupt departure one season removed from signing a two-year supermax deal continues to play a part in free agency negotiations next offseason remains to be seen.
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