WNBA Offseason Primer: Seattle Storm
By Ben Dull
January 15 marked the official start of WNBA free agency. The WNBA released an official list of core players, reserved players, unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents.
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With the help of The Summitt’s WNBA salaries database compiled by our own Howard Megdal, we’ll take a look at each WNBA team going into free agency, aiming to answer the following questions:
- Which players are free agents?
- Which players are still under contract?
- Who are some potential prospects worth targeting in the upcoming WNBA Draft?
- Which players on the free agent markets would be good fits to add for 2018?
The Seattle Storm finished last season with a record of 15-19. As the 8 seed, they fell at the hands of the Mercury in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
The Storm were another team to finish in the bottom half of the standings due to some extreme peaks and valleys throughout the season — a 5-2 start followed by a 1-6 stretch, 4-4 over the next eight games, then head coach Jenny Boucek was fired after a four game slide. Seattle responded to that move, at least immediately, winning four straight under interim head coach Gary Kloppenburg.
Sue Bird confirmed after their first round loss to the Mercury that she would be back for 2018. Dan Hughes was named the next head coach of the Storm in October. Seattle announced earlier this month that Crystal Robinson had been added to Hughes’ staff. The same release confirmed that Kloppenburg and Ryan Webb would return as assistant coaches for the 2018 season.
Now let’s break down Seattle’s situation — current free agents, players still under contract and the status of their 2018 draft picks.
Unrestricted free agents (UFAs): G Noelle Quinn, C Carolyn Swords
Restricted free agents (RFAs): Dan Hughes’ tie
Reserved players: G Sami Whitcomb
Core player: F/C Crystal Langhorne
Players under contract:
- G Sue Bird through 2019
- F Breanna Stewart through 2019
- G Jewell Loyd through 2018
- G/F Alysha Clark through 2018
- G Alexis Peterson through 2020 (team option)
- F Ramu Tokashiki through 2018
- G/F Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis through 2018
- C Lanay Montgomery (contract details unknown)
2018 draft picks: No. 5, No. 17, No. 29
Accounting for Langhorne, designated as their core player, and the fifth overall pick, Seattle has 10 roster spots already filled. There aren’t many available shooters quite on par with what Whitcomb showed last season as a rookie — that pushes them to 11. Lock those three players in, and the Storm are in line for a quiet offseason. The only question left: What would be the best use of that one remaining spot?
First, the Storm need to be sure to get more out of Mosqueda-Lewis and Whitcomb next season. Maybe one ends up outplaying the other to eat up most of the remaining minutes on the wing. Mosqueda-Lewis was banged up for part of the season, but unless the Storm move on from her, they needs to get her back to playing like she did as a second year pro.
The big question for Seattle lies at the five spot. Langhorne is a very nice fit with what Seattle has been doing. But her lack of size is an issue against the best centers — Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner can bury her under the rim and just shoot right over the top. The Storm may plan to double aggressively against the best bigs, but at a certain point, it’ll be time to slide Stewart up a position more often. She can attack those players just as easily on the other end.
Players to possibly target in free agency:
- With that last point in mind, Tamera Young (The Summitt’s No. 10 UFA) or Alex Montgomery would be names to consider to give the Storm some additional lineup flexibility. Both veteran wings are unrestricted free agents. Montgomery is the head coach of the Steilacoom High School varsity girls basketball team in Tacoma; she also starred at nearby Kentwood alongside Courtney Vandersloot.
- Swords didn’t get much run last season in Seattle, but Kia Vaughn is a strong option at the five worth considering if Hughes would like another true center on the roster.
What are your expectations for the Seattle in 2018? What do you expect to be different or improved under Dan Hughes, and what kind of help does their roster need to be in a position to make a run deep into the playoffs?
