The Seattle Storm came into the 2026 preseason with an Ezi Magbegor question hanging over the team's collective head: would she stay or would she go? For a period it seemed as if Ezi might be seeking a trade from the team, and many believed her exit interview at the end of last season implied was at the very least open to finding somewhere new to land.
But as free agency progressed and no news was shared, it seemed the team wasn't quite sure what would happen next, or perhaps that a deal was being negotiated behind the scenes. The WNBA Draft also saw Seattle come away with a group of picks who willl bring depth and dimension to the team: Awa Fam Thiam, Flau'jae Johnson, Grace Vanslooten, and Taina Mair have all since signed their rookie contracts with the team.
On Monday, April 20, the Storm offered an update on Magbegor — but it wasn't one that anyone wanted to hear. Magbegor suffered a right foot injury while playing overseas in Australia during the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Turkey, where she averaged 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Magbegor is a native of Australia, and plans to represent her home country in this year's tournament.
The injury means she could miss as much as 8 weeks of the upcoming WNBA season, and effectively quells any existing conversations about potential trades. That's good news for Storm fans, many of whom wanted to keep Magbegor on the roster, though it's not likely anyone involved wanted her to be injured during this season.
The Storm's general manager Talisa Rhea made it clear during free agency that the team wanted to keep her on the roster no matter what. Magbegor, who means "a great deal" to both the team and to the city of Seattle, is a big part of the team's plans, Rhea said. Magbegor "has a real impact on the defensive end with her ability to cover ground, protect the rim, and disrupts plays" she added, but perhaps most importantly, "she anchors us."
The Storm head into the 2026 season with an exciting roster who can bring a true dynamic shift to the court. The team is relatively young, and it could be some time before they really begin to come together. But once the Storm is locked in, it's entirely possible — even probable — that the future will be bright indeed.
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