I don't think so. They already extended Ezi earlier this season and both Skylar and Jewell are signed through the 2025 season. I'm not 100% clear on why Nneka didn't sign a two-year deal like Jewell and Skylar. My best speculation is that either Seattle wanted the cap flexability and maybe Nneka could be convinced to take less money if needed for next season, like if the team needed to pay Gabby or an outside free agent (Brionna Jones, Satou Sabally, etc.) more. Or it is possible either Nneka wasn't 100% sure she wanted to play in Seattle long term so she just signed a one-year deal. Or that Nneka wasn't certain she was going to play more than one more year in the WNBA. That last one is less likely because I've heard her specifically say she still feels she has years (plural) left in her.
Outside of Nneka. The only other person you would want to lock up with an extension would be Gabby Williams. However, Gabby may want to test the waters in free agency and actually go through the courting experience. The reports stated that Gabby was looking to sign with a WNBA team as long as they weren't going to core her to lock her in place. If that was an accurate report, then it doesn't make much sense for Gabby to sign a contract extension before testing the market.
I highly doubt the team would sign Sami, Mercedes, Victoria, or Joyner to contract extensions. Sami is having the worst three-point shooting season of her career.
Depending on what the team wants to do, they should have a fair amount of salary cap space to work with next season. But if they start signing multiple players like Mercedes, Sami, Nneka, etc. than all of that cap space gets used up and the team doesn't change much from this season. Obviously, this year has been a success. But could they improve the roster? Could they build a team that can actually compete with New York, Minnesota, and Las Vegas?
Lastly, we have an expansion draft coming up. And the rules have not been established or at least they haven't been publicly announced. Teams will probably only be able to protect 6 players. I don't know what the rules will be if a team only has 5 players on their roster, are they allowed to just protect everyone and not lose a player?
Maybe we see something that I believe the Seattle Kraken got to do when they became an expansion team. Not only did they pick players from other teams, but they got an exclusive negotating period with all Unrestricted Free Agents before Free Agency opened up to the entire NHL. I think we could see something like that happen again. For instance, if Seattle doesn't extend Nneka or Gabby. Maybe the Valkyries get the first opportunity to pitch signing with them before all other WNBA teams.
I think Jewell will be available. If Ezi suffered a concussion that might be less certain that she can play on Tuesday. The team should give us an official statement later today.
Jeff: It’s that time of the season for contract extensions. Do you anticipate any for the Storm?
I don't think so. They already extended Ezi earlier this season and both Skylar and Jewell are signed through the 2025 season. I'm not 100% clear on why Nneka didn't sign a two-year deal like Jewell and Skylar. My best speculation is that either Seattle wanted the cap flexability and maybe Nneka could be convinced to take less money if needed for next season, like if the team needed to pay Gabby or an outside free agent (Brionna Jones, Satou Sabally, etc.) more. Or it is possible either Nneka wasn't 100% sure she wanted to play in Seattle long term so she just signed a one-year deal. Or that Nneka wasn't certain she was going to play more than one more year in the WNBA. That last one is less likely because I've heard her specifically say she still feels she has years (plural) left in her.
Outside of Nneka. The only other person you would want to lock up with an extension would be Gabby Williams. However, Gabby may want to test the waters in free agency and actually go through the courting experience. The reports stated that Gabby was looking to sign with a WNBA team as long as they weren't going to core her to lock her in place. If that was an accurate report, then it doesn't make much sense for Gabby to sign a contract extension before testing the market.
I highly doubt the team would sign Sami, Mercedes, Victoria, or Joyner to contract extensions. Sami is having the worst three-point shooting season of her career.
Depending on what the team wants to do, they should have a fair amount of salary cap space to work with next season. But if they start signing multiple players like Mercedes, Sami, Nneka, etc. than all of that cap space gets used up and the team doesn't change much from this season. Obviously, this year has been a success. But could they improve the roster? Could they build a team that can actually compete with New York, Minnesota, and Las Vegas?
Lastly, we have an expansion draft coming up. And the rules have not been established or at least they haven't been publicly announced. Teams will probably only be able to protect 6 players. I don't know what the rules will be if a team only has 5 players on their roster, are they allowed to just protect everyone and not lose a player?
Maybe we see something that I believe the Seattle Kraken got to do when they became an expansion team. Not only did they pick players from other teams, but they got an exclusive negotating period with all Unrestricted Free Agents before Free Agency opened up to the entire NHL. I think we could see something like that happen again. For instance, if Seattle doesn't extend Nneka or Gabby. Maybe the Valkyries get the first opportunity to pitch signing with them before all other WNBA teams.
Is there any news about Ezi and Jewell's availability for Tuesday?
I think Jewell will be available. If Ezi suffered a concussion that might be less certain that she can play on Tuesday. The team should give us an official statement later today.
I was wrong. Both are out of Tuesday's game against Las Vegas.