Veteran Firepower and Fresh Faces Fuel Seattle’s Season » Winsidr

Coming off a season of growth, the Seattle Storm returns with a potent mix of veteran leadership, emerging talent, and a promising rookie class—positioning themselves as legitimate contenders in the 2025 WNBA season. Franchise anchors Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Gabby Williams, and Ezi Magbegor headline a dynamic core determined to make a deeper playoff push. The roster has been fortified with key additions, including 6-foot-7 Chinese national team center Li Yueru (Lee Yuh-roo), versatile forward Katie Lou Samuelson, three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark, and WNBA champion Lexie Brown.

With several players sidelined due to injury, real opportunities have opened for a trio of promising rookies from the 2025 WNBA Draft, along with younger talents fighting to secure a spot. Their continued development could be pivotal as the Storm looks to strike the right balance between experience and youth throughout the season.

Losing Key Pieces

The Seattle Storm are facing early adversity heading into the 2025 season, as forward Jordan Horston and guard Nika Mühl have both been placed on the suspended list following offseason ACL injuries. Mühl suffered her injury in October while playing for Turkish club Beşiktaş, while Horston went down in February during the Athletes Unlimited competition.

Horston, Seattle’s 2023 first-round pick and the team’s top reserve last season (6.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG), was already expected to miss the year due to the timing of her injury. Mühl, a promising 2024 second-rounder, had generated hope for a possible late-season return, but the Storm have since confirmed that both players will sit out the entire 2025 season.

Their absence makes Seattle’s depth and roster decisions coming out of training camp even more pivotal. The Storm enter camp with 16 players—including several new additions—but must trim down to 11 by opening day to comply with league salary cap rules.

Losing Loyd

The Seattle Storm’s decision to part ways with longtime star Jewell Loyd marked the end of an era—but it might just be the beginning of something even better. Loyd, a two-time champion, six-time All-Star, and the 2023 WNBA scoring leader had been the face of the franchise for a decade. Her pedigree is undeniable. But after requesting a trade amid internal tensions and an investigation into alleged mistreatment—which ultimately found no violations—Seattle was faced with a tough choice. What they gained in return, however, could reshape the franchise’s future. The blockbuster deal brought the Storm the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft (used on French phenom Dominique Malonga), a 2026 first-round pick, and promising center Li Yueru. For many, it felt like addition by subtraction. In moving on from Loyd, they created space for a new identity and a better rhythm on and off the court—one built on youth, versatility, and long-term upside. It’s rare to trade a player of Loyd’s caliber and come out looking stronger, but thanks to savvy maneuvering and a loaded rookie class, the Storm may have pulled it off.

New Faces, Fresh Hope

Seattle reloaded in the 2025 WNBA Draft by selecting Dominique Malonga as the No. 2 overall pick. The 19-year-old phenom from France averaged 15.4 points and 10.3 rebounds for ASVEL Féminin and was named European Player of the Year and Center of the Year. Malonga has drawn early comparisons to Victor Wembanyama for her rare blend of size and skill—as well as her French roots. While some question whether she’s ready to face seasoned WNBA competition at a young age, Malonga has made it clear she’s prepared to compete at the highest level. Despite this, Dominique Malonga was absent from the Seattle Storm’s first day of training camp on Sunday, per ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. More concerning, Storm head coach Noelle Quinn told Pelton that “the team doesn’t yet have a timetable for her arrival.” On a more reassuring note, Quinn emphasized that they are staying in touch with Malonga, saying, “We’re in communication with her. We’ll get some updates this week.” The Storm could really use Malonga in their rotation so we will wait to see if she arrives and how she will fit into the Storm’s lineup.

In the third round, the Storm added three high-upside prospects who could prove to be steals:

Serena Sundell (No. 26) – The Kansas State guard and Big 12’s all-time assists leader averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 assists per game. Landing a playmaker of her caliber this late in the draft is a major coup.
Madison Conner (No. 29) – A sharpshooter from TCU, Conner led the NCAA with 128 made three-pointers and posted 16.4 points per game.
Jordan Hobbs (No. 34) – A 6’3″ forward from Michigan, Hobbs earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors after averaging 13.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.

These picks reflect a strong draft strategy by Seattle, and many would call it astonishing to acquire a talent like Sundell in the third round. Still, cracking a veteran-heavy Storm roster won’t be easy—setting the stage for an intense and exciting training camp.

Seattle Storm 2025 Roster Projection: Who’s Locked In, Who’s on the Bubble? (11-Player Limit)

Status
Player
Position
Notes

✅ Roster Lock
Nneka Ogwumike
Forward
Veteran leader, big free agency signing, heart of the team

✅ Roster Lock
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Guard
Elite playmaker, back healthy, and playing her best basketball

✅ Roster Lock
Gabby Williams
Forward/Guard
Versatile defender, Olympic silver medalist

✅ Roster Lock
Ezi Magbegor
Center
Defensive anchor, rising star

✅ Roster Lock
Alysha Clark
Forward
Veteran presence, 3&D specialist

✅ Roster Lock
Lexie Brown
Guard
Reliable depth, professional scorer, spacing option

✅ Roster Lock
Katie Lou Samuelson
Forward
Stretch four, key rotational shooter

✅ Roster Lock
Erica Wheeler
Guard
Veteran backup guard with playoff experience

✅ Roster Lock
Dominique Malonga
Center
#2 pick in 2025, French phenom, not joining until overseas season ends

⚠️ On the Bubble
Serena Sundell
Guard
High-IQ playmaker, elite passer

⚠️ On the Bubble
Madison Conner
Guard
NCAA 3PT leader, floor-spacer

⚠️ On the Bubble
Jordan Hobbs
Forward
Solid all-around, but crowded position

⚠️ On the Bubble
Li Yueru
Center
Size and overseas experience, but may be out if Malonga joins

⚠️ On the Bubble
Mackenzie Holmes
Forward/Center
A proven scorer in college, Holmes—Seattle’s No. 26 pick in 2024—missed the season following knee surgery and faces a tough climb to make the roster.

⚠️ On the Bubble
Zia Cooke
Guard
Athletic combo guard, but inconsistent rookie season

⚠️ On the Bubble
Brianna Fraser
Forward
Camp invitee, longshot for final roster

What to Watch

Growth of Young Talent: When will Dominique Malonga arrive in Seattle? Can she make an early case for minutes? Will she be able to make an immediate impact? Also, will Serena Sundell or any of the other rookies secure a spot on the roster?
Defensive Adjustments: With the absence of Jordan Horston and Nika Mühl, who will step up as the Storm’s primary perimeter defender?
Team Chemistry: With new rotations, the addition of veteran players, and rookies competing for playing time, how quickly can the Storm find their rhythm? The team’s ability to gel will be crucial for success this season.
Pressure on Noelle Quinn: As the head coach of a reloaded roster, Quinn faces the pressure to win now. Beyond the challenge of managing a new-look team, there’s the added weight of being the only Black female head coach in the WNBA—a role that carries unspoken expectations and the need to break barriers for future generations.

Final Thoughts

The Seattle Storm may just be the contender that no one is talking about. While other teams dominate the headlines, the Storm have quietly had one of the best offseasons, retooling with a mix of continuity from their core pieces, the addition of veteran leadership, and exciting rookie potential. With the franchise’s unwavering support for its players and a culture that fosters development, they are poised to surprise the league. If everything falls into place, the Storm could very well emerge as one of the most dangerous teams in the WNBA, blending experience with youthful energy in pursuit of another championship.