WNBA: Sure, the Seattle Storm might be higher this season—and right here’s why

They have been swept out of the primary spherical of the 2024 WNBA playoffs. Their head coach was investigated for alleged out-of-line therapy of gamers. They have been pressured to commerce their two-time champion and six-time All-Star guard. They noticed their promising younger wing undergo an ACL harm in February. They drafted a youngster with the No. 2 total decide. Their finest gamers are of their mid-30s. Their highest-paid participant will miss a big chunk of the season to compete in EuroBasket Ladies.

And but, the Seattle Storm might be higher this season. Significantly better.

Regardless of a disappointing 2024 season and an offseason that includes a justifiable share of tumult, the Storm are located the achieve 2025, not simply incomes a visit to the playoffs however arriving there as legit title contenders. Right here’s why:

Dig in with Diggins

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Unequalled followers have been reminded of the sneering swagger of Skylar Diggins in the course of the 3×3 league’s inaugural season. A Second Crew All-Unequalled performer for Lunar Owls, Diggins helped her squad compile the highest regular-season document by means of the drive of her play and persona, averaging virtually 18 factors and 5 assists per sport whereas hitting a number of game-winning baskets—and letting her opponents find out about it.

She ought to unleash those self same skills and perspective in Seattle this season. At media day, Diggins expressed how her Unequalled expertise has her feeling extra ready for this season, particularly in comparison with the season prior, saying:

I feel it actually obtained me ready, particularly coming off final season. I can’t say it sufficient, coming off maternity depart and having that huge of a niche between video games….As soon as I noticed the caliber of gamers that have been going to be concerned, I knew that was going to be some good run for me to prepare for this camp. Every part that I wished to make use of it for got here to fruition.

Final yr, not solely was Diggins in her first season within the Pacific Northwest, however she was additionally returning to the courtroom after over a yr absence on account of maternity depart. That resulted in a sluggish begin to the season as she shot the ball poorly. Nonetheless, she started to search out her kind after the prolonged All-Star/Olympic break, averaging 18.5 factors per sport down the stretch, along with lowering her turnovers and rising her steals.

Anticipate that manufacturing to be her baseline in 2025. Whereas Diggins and Jewell Loyd have been a statistically profitable pairing in 2024, with their two-player lineup internet ranking rating second amongst all of Seattle’s pairings, Loyd’s departure ought to end in position readability, empowering Diggins as the first offensive initiator for each possession when she is on the ground.

May the W’s finest D be within the PNW?

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Final season, the Storm completed with the league’s fourth-best protection, sporting a strong 96.4 ranking regardless of a late-season defensive slide.

Getting into 2025, Seattle believes they are often even higher, with Diggins even asserting “prime two in protection” because the crew’s aim. And he or she and her teammates have good motive to belief that they are often one of many W’s finest defensive items. Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magebegor stay an impressive defensive frontcourt, with the wizened smarts of Ogwumike, a seven-time All-Protection nominee who averaged almost two steals per sport final season, complemented by the elite rim safety of Magbegor, a three-time All-Protection honoree who ranked third within the WNBA with 2.2 blocks per sport final season. Now, the crew provides in Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 decide within the 2025 draft, who, whereas possessing all-round, other-worldly star promise, is almost certainly to make a distinction on the defensive finish as a rookie on account of her fluid, athletic presents at 6-foot-6.

The defensive playmaking of the frontcourt shall be complemented by disruptive protection on the perimeter. Gabby Williams, who was restricted to 12 video games final season on account of Olympic yr obligations with the French nationwide crew (and she or he’ll miss time this season when competing in EuroBasket Ladies with France), is a top-notch defensive playmaker. An All-Protection choice in 2022, her final full season within the W, she posted a career-best 1.7 steals per sport in 2024. Diggins additionally matched Williams’ steals common final season, deploying relentless effort to compensate for her lack of dimension.

The return of Alysha Clark additional strengthens the Storm’s defensive prowess. Whereas now not the Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidate she turned throughout her first tenure is Seattle, she stays on the league’s most strong, dependable defenders, able to guarding on the perimeter and holding up within the put up.

Briefly, opponents is not going to have enjoyable making an attempt to attain on the Storm this season.

A depth of title-worthy of expertise

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Diggins additionally proclaimed that this 2025 Seattle squad is “undoubtedly probably the most gifted roster I’ve been part of in my 13 years.” That’s a daring assertion, particularly contemplating she performed alongside the likes of Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi as a member of a Phoenix Mercury crew that reached the WNBA Finals in 2021.

But, whereas the Storm would possibly now have the high-wattage star energy of these Mercury, and even final season’s Storm, Seattle does sport superior depth. Extra particularly, it’s depth that’s versatile and complementary. Williams expressed such a sentiment at media day, explaining:

I feel that’s what’s so nice in regards to the crew that we’ve constructed this yr is that perhaps anybody can go off any evening. It’s not about relying simply on one or two gamers to attain. It’s going to be about how all of us play collectively and the way all of us assume our roles.

Clark, whose presence is critical to Seattle’s total energy not simply due to her aforementioned protection but additionally her elite 3-point taking pictures, likewise embraced what this crew may obtain, saying: “I feel we have now sufficient expertise on this roster to win a championship.”

That expertise consists of Katie Lou Samuelson and Lexie Brown, each of whom, like Clark, supply excellent taking pictures. They’re additionally competent secondary or tertiary playmakers, whereas Erica Wheeler offers the Storm a premier backup level guard who’s greater than able to exploding for an enormous scoring evening that swings a sport in Seattle’s favor.

Li Yueru, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Sparks as a part of the commerce that despatched Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces, started to indicate promise as an inside scorer final season. Presumably, Mackenzie Holmes, the No. 26 total decide within the 2024 draft who will start her rookie season after sitting out final season to rehab lingering accidents from faculty, can showcase the scoring contact that made her a star at Indiana.

After which there’s Malonga, whose sky-high ceiling can encourage outlandish optimism about what she may contribute to the crew this season. The rookie has but to reach in Seattle, having simply accomplished her season for ASVEL in France, which was competing within the Ligue Féminine de Basketball (LFB) playoffs. Head coach Noelle Quinn famous that the crew is “in communication together with her,” whilst there is no such thing as a timeline for her arrival.

Seattle is a metropolis that is aware of and appreciates nice ladies’s basketball, having born witness to 4 WNBA championships. There’s motive to imagine that this crew may make it 5.