Seattle Storm Free Agency Roundup

Seattle has been very busy over the past week.

It’s funny how just a few days can really change perceptions. Until this past week, the Seattle Storm fan base was collectively the “C’mon, do something…” meme when it came to the Storm and WNBA Free Agency.

The fans were concerned. The fans were panicked. Certain teams like the Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, Phoenix Mercury, and the Dallas Wings were all very active in the first week of WNBA Free Agency. The Dream went big … literally! They added 6’9” Brittney Griner in arguably the most shocking move of Free Agency. Then added 6’3” Center Brionna Jones to double down on their efforts to improve their frontcourt.

Indiana took their next steps toward building a championship team by re-signing All-Star Guard Kelsey Mitchell. Then they brought in veterans DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard. They also traded for Sophie Cunningham to bolster their bench scoring and three-point shooting.

Phoenix made most of their moves through trades. The Mercury added perennial MVP candidate, Alyssa Thomas. Then traded for All-Star Satou Sabally. They also brought in Kalani Brown who should help give the Mercury some size after losing Griner in Free Agency. Phoenix bolstered their roster with some high-level talent but also lost a lot with BG heading to Atlanta and Natasha Cloud, Sophie Cunningham, and Rebecca Allen all departing through trades. Arguably, the Mercury’s biggest Free Agent signing (not trade) has been Sami Whitcomb. Interestingly, they also gave a guaranteed contract to former Storm 2020 draft pick, Kitija Laksa. It’s interesting because Laksa has never played an official game in the WNBA.

Similar to the Mercury, the Dallas Wings made most of their big-name moves via trades. They’ve added DiJonai Carrington and Ty Harris from Connecticut; they also acquired NaLyssa Smith from Indiana. Dallas gave Myisha Hines-Allen a large contract. They also have added former Storm players Joyner Holmes and Kaila Charles.

Outside of Seattle’s big trade of Jewell Loyd, they remained relatively quiet during the first several days of Free Agency. It got to the point where people were speculating that free agents were purposefully avoiding the Storm due to the bullying and harassment allegations that took place at the end of last year. And with players like Sami Whitcomb and Joyner Holmes moving on to new teams as well, concerns grew throughout the fanbase.

And while I believe the WNBA is a pretty tight-knit group; less than 144 players in the world play in the league in any given season. It’s not unheard of to think that players talk amongst themselves and maybe certain players decided they weren’t interested in coming to Seattle due to the “drama”. I don’t believe that was the primary reason for Seattle’s slow start to Free Agency.

Instead, I believe other logical factors were going on. Seattle’s priority this off-season outside of the Loyd trade, was to re-sign Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams. They were able to accomplish that. Retaining players is never as “sexy” as attracting new big names but Nneka and Gabby are set to play a pivotal role in Seattle. Losing either player could derail the franchise’s current window to compete. With both players returning, Seattle’s front office can continue to put new pieces around a core group of Skylar, Nneka, Ezi, and Gabby.

Another factor in Seattle’s slow start to Free Agency is the fact that it’s really difficult to make a big splash one year after making a huge splash in Free Agency. By most accounts, the Storm “won” the Free Agency period of 2024 after they added All-Stars, Nneka Ogwumike, and Skylar Diggins-Smith landing two of the biggest free agents on the market; just as the New York Liberty won in 2023 after trading for Jonquel Jones and signing both Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot. But if we look back at the Liberty’s 2024 Free Agency period, it was much more modest. Their biggest move ended up being a trade for Leonie Fiebich but, at the time, that wasn’t making major headlines. Other than that, their main free agent signing was adding Kennedy Burke, who played a minor role off the bench.

The point is that it is difficult to make splashy moves after splashy moves, year after year. The Storm’s big moves came in 2024 while 2025 is more about retaining and building around those pieces.

Coach Quinn talked about the importance of re-signing Gabby Williams.

“We’re excited to have Gabby back with us in Seattle this season. Gabby is such a versatile player who is dangerous both on the offensive and defensive end. She’s a student of the game and is constantly striving for excellence, which showed during her stellar Olympic performance last summer. I know her contributions this year are going to be game-changing for our team.” Quinn stated.

Storm General Manager, Talisa Rhea, added the following.

“It has been remarkable to watch Gabby complete on the international stage and to establish herself as one of the top guards in the WNBA. Her versatility and playmaking skills elevate our team, and she positively impacts all facets of the game. As importantly, Gabby is a phenomenal teammate and member of this organization.”

They also spoke about retaining Nneka Ogwumike.

“Nneka is one of the most driven and dedicated players I have ever had the pleasure to coach. Last season, she showcased just how dominant her versatility and scoring capabilities are, as well as how an elite defender can impact a game. The presence she commands both on and off the court is inspiring, and we can’t wait to have her back with us for another season to continue elevating our play,” said Coach Quinn.

“Nneka has a presence that is hard to capture in words, she simply makes everything she is a part of stronger. She brings experience, professionalism, and talent into everything she is involved in. Nneka’s return to Seattle as an important leader on this team has our franchise and our city excited for the season ahead,” added GM Rhea.

With the Jewell Loyd trade completed and Seattle’s top internal free agents re-signed, the Storm’s front office went to work on adding those complementary pieces. Seattle’s first big move from the outside was a reunion with fan-favorite Alysha Clark. Clark is the exact type of player that the Storm needed to add. Originally a defensive specialist, Clark has developed into an elite three-point shooter. Clark is a career 38% shooter from long distance and essentially shot that in both of her years spent in Las Vegas. Outside shooting was the Storm’s biggest weakness in 2024 and Clark will help in that regard.

Per Richard Cohen and HerHoopStats, Clark signed a one-year deal worth $185,000. That’s a large pay increase from the $110,000 she made with the Las Vegas Aces in each of the past two years. The increased pay was likely a key factor in convincing Clark to leave a good situation in Las Vegas for Seattle. That’s important for the Storm as not only does it improve their roster overall but it weakens the team that eliminated them in playoffs a year ago. The signing becomes even more critical after the very unfortunate injury to Jordan Horston, who is expected to miss the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL injury that she suffered playing in Athletes Unlimited this month.

Clark will play a large role for the Storm no matter what. But she may take on a starting role if the team slides Gabby Williams down to the Shooting Guard position. Clark is expected to get plenty of minutes this season, whether in a starting role or off the bench,

Coach Quinn had this to say in the Storm’s official press release after the team was able to bring back AC.

"Alysha's ability to influence the game on both ends of the court is rare. She is an experienced leader and brings an unmatched level of defensive strength and skill. Not to mention, she’s won three championship titles, so she knows what it takes to compete and win. Her connection with Seattle is special, and I know our fans and community are excited to welcome her back."

After re-signing Gabby Williams and bringing back AC, the Storm next announced the signing of Erica Wheeler. Wheeler has spent most of her 10-year career playing for the Indiana Fever. Last season, her role was reduced as Caitlin Clark took over the starting Point Guard role and averaged over 35 MPG. With Nika Mühl likely out for the season with her torn ACL, Wheeler should step in as the Storm’s backup point guard. Depending on Seattle’s final roster makeup, Wheeler could also help fill in at Shooting Guard.

"Erica’s capacity to create plays and facilitate points is a huge add for our team,” said Storm Head Coach Noelle Quinn. “She brings a strong dedication to the game and is an incredible teammate. We’re looking forward to Erica joining us in Seattle.”

Next, the Storm announced they had signed their third-round rookie from 2024, Mackenzie Holmes. Holmes, a 6’3” Power Forward from Indiana missed all of last season with a knee injury that required surgery. Holmes has not played basketball since her senior season at Indiana University. She did not play overseas as she is still rehabbing her knee injury. Instead, she has worked with the Indiana women’s basketball team to help coach their post players.

Seattle’s roster still lacks depth behind Nneka, Ezi, and Li Yueru. Holmes may be able to earn herself a roster spot if she is healthy and shows that she can compete at the WNBA level in training camp.

On Thursday, the Storm also announced the signings of additional depth pieces in guard Zia Cooke and forward Brianna Fraser. Cooke was the 10th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, one selection after the Storm took Jordan Horston. She played her first two seasons with the LA Sparks but was waived at the beginning of the month.

It was reported that the Storm did NOT claim Cooke off of waivers. Had they done so, they would have had her on her rookie-scale contract which would have been a deal for this season, with a team option in 2026, and made her an RFA (Restricted Free Agent) in 2027. Instead, she will be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2026 and on just a one-year unprotected deal in Seattle for 2025. Cooke will compete for a roster spot as a backup guard.

Meanwhile, Brianna Fraser is a 6’3” forward who plays for Galatasaray in Turkey. She plays on the same team as Storm Center, Li Yueru. Fraser played college at the University of Maryland between 2015 and 2019. Fraser leads her team in scoring at 15.6 PPG and 6.6 RPG. She has not played an official game in the WNBA but did play in the preseason with the New York Liberty last season.

Lastly (for now), the Storm made another trade with the Los Angeles Sparks.

As you can see from the picture above, the Storm traded away two second-round picks from the 2025 and 2027 WNBA Drafts. Seattle also previously traded away their 2026 second-round pick as part of the Jewell Loyd trade. This means the Storm don’t have any second-round picks over the next three years. And funny enough, the Sparks own all three of those second-round picks. And to top it off, Seattle owns LA’s first-round picks in 2025 and 2026. Hat tip to Across the Timeline for helping me double-check all of that.

With this trade, because the Storm are trading their second-round pick for LA’s third-round pick, Seattle is really only moving back five picks. That’s because the Sparks owned the first pick in the third round and Seattle’s second-round pick was in the back half as they finished with the 5th-best record in the league last year.

At least on paper, Seattle didn’t give up a ton in this trade. They gave up their second-round pick in 2027 but will still have four draft picks in 2025. That includes #2 overall, plus three third-round picks (26th, 29th, and 34th).

Lexie Brown has had a public battle with Crohn’s Disease that has limited her ability to stay on the basketball court. Brown has played just 38 out of 80 possible games over the past two seasons. However, she did play 34 out of 36 games in 2022. Brown shot nearly 49% overall and 42% from beyond the arc in 2023 during her limited action.

If Lexie can play and stay healthy, she should have a solid role on this team. The team lacks guard depth right now, especially if they have both Gabby and AC play the Small Forward position. Similar to the addition of Clark, Brown has been a strong three-point shooter throughout her career averaging 36% from long distance. She should allow the Storm to be able to space the floor when she is on the court.

Depth Chart

Tentative Storm Depth Chart as of 02/16/25:
PG: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Erica Wheeler, Zia Cooke
SG: Gabby Williams, Lexie Brown
SF: Alysha Clark, Brianna Fraser
PF: Nneka Ogwumike, Mackenzie Holmes
C: Ezi Magbegor, Li Yueru

Injured Reserve: Jordan Horston, Nika Mühl

This is what I have as the tentative depth chart at this point. Obviously, this will change greatly depending on what the Storm do throughout the rest of Free Agency and during the WNBA Draft in April. Before Horston’s injury, I would have had her at the starting Small Forward position, and Gabby where I currently have her as the starting Shooting Guard.

If the Storm find a way to move up to the #1 overall pick and take Paige Bueckers or just stay where they are and select Olivia Miles, then you could slot Bueckers/Miles in (potentially) as the starting Shooting Guard, move Gabby Williams to the 3, and have Alysha Clark be the 6th Woman off the bench.

Also, I have not seen enough of Brianna Fraser to know whether she is better slotted as an SF or PF but she currently is listed as a Small Forward for her overseas team per Eurobasket.

What’s Next?

There are still other free agents out there. As I was writing this, Brianna Turner (PF/C) signed with the Indiana Fever. I thought she could have been an option for some post-player depth.

One player I’m curious about is Katie Lou Samuelson. She was bought out of her contract by the Fever and will be an Unrestricted Free Agent after she clears waivers. She had the best shooting season of her career during the year she played in Seattle. She made 46% of her field goals and over 35% from the three-point range. As I’ve mentioned, Seattle needed more three-point shooters, and if they could bring Katie Lou in on a near-minimum deal, that could help bolster the team’s bench scoring.

While Lou isn’t the best defender, the team needs more depth at the wing position with Horston’s injury, and she could provide some additional shooting. I think it would be worth pursuing.

There are a few other players still out there. Isabelle Harrison is a player the Storm has had talks with in the past and could provide some low post depth behind Nneka and Ezi. Aerial Powers is another option if they’re looking for another scorer off the bench.

Despite some problems in the past, Seattle could consider Chennedy Carter. Or even take a chance on Crystal Bradford, who last played for the Atlanta Dream in 2021. She is playing pretty well in Athletes Unlimited currently. Those would be riskier options in regards to team chemistry and player behavior but they are options nonetheless.

There are a few former Storm players Seattle could bring back. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu is playing pretty well in France. She averages roughly 13 PPG and 8.5 RPG. If nothing else, bringing Dulcy back would provide more rebounding for the Storm. And if she can continue to develop her offensive game, she could become a legit backup in the WNBA.

Victoria Vivians hasn’t signed with any other team. While I know she was frustrated with how her playing time reduced drastically after Gabby Williams joined the team mid-season last year; due to Jordan’s injury, it’s possible Vivians could carve out some more playing time if she were to re-sign.

There are also former Storm training camp invitees including Kaela Davis and Alaina Coates that could be given another chance to make the team. Seattle currently lacks shooting guard (wing) and post player depth and those two players could fill those spots at the back end of the rotation.

The Storm currently have 11 players under contract on the roster not including Jordan Horston or Nika Mühl. Five of those players have guaranteed contracts. Those players are Gabby Williams, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ezi Magbegor, and Lexie Brown. The team has four draft picks in the upcoming draft and can bring 18 players to training camp. That means they should still be signing an additional 2-5 players depending on if they do any “draft and stash” with potential foreign prospects with the team’s three third-round picks.

Hopefully, we will see the Storm sign at least a couple of the players I’ve listed above. Similar to the team’s signing of Brianna Fraser, they may also find a couple more International prospects or players playing overseas that they’d like to bring in for a closer look before the team heads into training camp.

Draft Decisions

Beyond filling out the roster’s depth, the next big decision in Seattle will be what to do with the #2 overall pick. As I’ve written previously, the Storm would be ill-advised to trade the pick away for a quick fix. Instead, they need to use it as a building block for the future. And any player chosen second overall should provide an immediate impact on the team even if it’s in a reserve role.

The 2025 WNBA Draft appears to be more guard-heavy. While I still believe there is a chance Seattle gets aggressive and tries to move up to #1 overall to draft Paige Bueckers. I could also see a scenario where either Dallas outright refuses to make that deal or where the Storm evaluate the situation and decide they are better off keeping #2 and keeping all three first-round picks in 2026. For simplicity’s sake, let’s say Paige Bueckers goes #1 overall to the Dallas Wings.

In theory, that should leave Seattle with some guard/wing options including Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron, both out of Notre Dame. There is also Azzi Fudd from UConn who has a ton of injury history but is on an incredible heater as of late. She scored 28 points to lead UConn to an upset win at South Carolina on Sunday. She also scored 34 points in the game before that. Over her last six games, Fudd is shooting 64% from beyond the arc.

While I believe the Storm should take Olivia Miles if Bueckers goes #1 to the Wings. There is at least some concern/thought that she could return to Notre Dame for an additional season of college basketball. If that happens and Seattle wants to draft a wing, their options may be between Citron and Fudd.

However, the Storm also lack depth in the low post. The top post prospects are 19-year-old French star, Dominique Malonga (6’6” Center), Kiki Iriafen (6’3” PF USC), or Aneesah Morrow (6’1” PF LSU).

Ultimately, Seattle should go BPA (Best Player Available) as the roster has holes at multiple positions. General Manager Talisa Rhea, Pokey Chatman, and Coach Noelle Quinn have the next two months to evaluate all of their options and make the best selection for the Storm.

Notes:
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Thanks to Her Hoop Stats and Across the Timeline for being great resources.
Photo Credits to ‘Know Your Meme’ and the Seattle Storm.

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