Seattle fans endured a whirlwind of a season, but the fanbase should appreciate and give credit to the Storm’s perseverance right until the end. After a heartbreaking one-point loss in a winner-take-all game against the Las Vegas Aces to conclude the Storm’s season, we have now arrived at this daunting question: What is the future for the Storm?
Well, the first domino of the offseason has fallen for Seattle: the firing of Noelle Quinn. Who steps in to lead the next iteration of the Storm? Obviously, that’s a question that just about nobody can answer at the moment. However, there are bigger concerns that need to be addressed first, with the end of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) looming, significant implications are at stake not only for the Storm but for the entire WNBA. With the CBA being the ultimate wildcard for the future of the league, both sides need to avoid a lockout and negotiate a deal to continue the momentum and growth of the league.
Here’s what to watch for moving forward for Storm fans:
Free Agency & Player Movement
Six of the Storm’s core players are free agents: Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams, Erica Wheeler, Brittney Sykes, and Ezi Magbegor. Knowing there will be a new CBA, the next time these players step on the court will add another layer of complexity to this upcoming free agency. The outcome of this new deal could have a significant impact on player salaries and roster construction moving forward.
The direction of the organization will be made clear — once Seattle decides to retain the core of the team or shifts its focus towards a rebuild and the development of youth.
Building Around Dominique Malonga
Seattle’s top priority moving forward should be building around Dominique Malonga. This point was made known during the exit interviews. Skylar Diggins had very high remarks on Dominique Malonga:
"She'll be the face of this organization for a very long time."
Noelle Quinn brought along the rookie teenager slowly as Malonga played sparsely, pre-All-Star-Break, and then broke out onto the scene, post-All-Star-Break. Averaging 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game, on 57.6% shooting from the floor in 20 games.
The Storm will likely have a top-three pick, the fourteenth and the sixteenth pick in the 2026 draft, stemming from trading Jewell Loyd and Li Yieru. Seattle has the prime opportunity to jumpstart this eventual rebuild with Malonga and the third pick as the building blocks, with the 2027 draft class shaping up to be strong.
Outlook
The Seattle Storm are at a pivotal step after parting ways with Noelle Quinn. Will they take a short-term approach and run it back with pretty much the same roster and potentially be another first-round exit? Or will they take a long-term approach by tearing down the roster and featuring Dominique Malonga, most likely a top three pick in the upcoming draft, and future prospects?
Prediction: With Noelle Quinn no longer at the helm, expect significant changes for the Storm, and don't be surprised if core vets (Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Brittany Skyes) are no longer on the roster, with the primary focus on building for the future. Other vets who won’t be on the roster next season could include Lexie Brown, after expressing her dissatisfaction with a lack of opportunity, and Tiffany Mitchell.