WNBA: If the Storm win the No. 1 pick, what direction should they go?

In January 2024, in a move designed to free up the cap space necessary to sign Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, the Seattle Storm traded Kia Nurse and the No. 4 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft to the Los Angles Sparks in exchange for the Sparks’ 2026 first-round pick. The Sparks selected Rickea Jackson with what would have been Seattle’s pick.

Now, what happens with the 2026 lottery pick that the Storm own could determine if Seattle or Los Angeles won that transaction. We might get some indication on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) during the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery, when the Storm have a 16.7 percent chance of winning the top pick.

The Ogwumike-Diggins era of Storm basketball has mostly been a disappointment, with uneven regular seasons, clouded by reported internal turmoil, ending in two first-round playoff exits. While consistent wins have yet to come for the Sparks, Jackson has established herself as a long-term piece with All-Star upside.

If the 2026 lotto pick lands at No. 1 overall, Seattle certainly will be in stronger position to be declared winners of the trade, regardless of what direction they choose to take in 2026 under the leadership of new head coach Sonia Raman.

The organization could run try to run it back with Ogwumike and Diggins, along with as many other players as possible from their veteran group of Gabby Williams, Ezi Magbegor, Brittney Sykes and Erica Wheeler, and use the top pick to add a plug-and-play rookie. Or, they could prioritize retaining younger veterans, namely Williams and Magbegor, and compile a team that blends experience and youth, with the No. 1 pick joining 2025 No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga as the promising, youthful element. Maybe, the franchise will elect for a total reset, going with a youth movement that prioritizes longer-term development over a win-now approach, giving Raman, who is known for her player development, an opportunity to build a team that is focused on maximizing Malonga and the No. 1 pick.

Here’s a look at the prospects Seattle should prioritize depending on their direction, in addition to a wild-card option:

If the Storm retain their veteran core, they should select….

UConn super senior guard Azzi Fudd

If Ogwumike and Diggins, in particular, remain in Seattle, a surefire shooter who can slide into a variety of lineup constructions makes sense. On a team looking to contend, Fudd would fit in without much fuss. She would not require touches or extended opportunities to experiment with expanding her skillet. She could simply hit open shots and be a reliable-enough cog on defense. Plus, she’s accustomed to high-stakes, championship-winning standards.

If the Storm keep their younger vets, they should select…

LSU senior guard Flau’Jae Johnson

If the organization only keeps their vets who are under age 30 in Williams and Magbegor, building out an uber-athletic team becomes an intriguing option. And of the top prospects, Johnson would best enhance such an identity.

Imagine a tandem of Williams and Johnson that applies their elite athleticism on both ends of the floor to frustrate opponents. Disrupting passing lanes. Outrunning everyone for transition scores. Driving to the hoop in the halfcourt. Cutting and slashing for more open scores. Then, they’d be supported by a backline of Magbegor and Malonga, who could blockade the basket on one end while benefitting from the playmaking of Williams and Johnson on the other.

If the Storm go with a youth movement, they should select…

TCU super senior guard Olivia Miles

If the Storm decide it’s time to turn the page and go all in on a timeline and team centered on Malonga, the need to set up her with a longterm backcourt partner. In that case, there’s no better choice that Miles, a creative point guard whose combination of passing instincts and improved shooting would work to maximize the French phenom.

Malonga, likewise, could help Miles achieve her highest outcome, as Malonga’s elite defensive traits could cover for Miles’ projected weaknesses on that end.

If the Storm want to zag, they should select…

UCLA senior center Lauren Betts

In recent seasons, more WNBA teams are prioritizing modern, space-and-pace systems that emphasize skill, speed and shooting over traditional size. In short, bigger is no longer understood as better.

But maybe the Storm could disrupt what is becoming conventional wisdom by going bigger—and, eventually, being better.

A twin towers (or Space Needle Sisters) of Malonga and Betts would be a bold team-building path, with the organization choosing not to weaponize Malonga as a hyper-versatile 5, but, instead, opting to take advantage of her ability to play away from the basket as a 4 and pair her with an old(ish)-school 5 in Betts. With the 6-foot-6 Malonga and 6-foot-7 Betts, the Seattle defense could be insane, with Betts serving as a traditional rim protector as Malonga flies around as a secondary rim protector, capable of swatting shots all over the floor. On the other end, things might take more time, as Malonga would need to become more proficient as a ball handler and 3-point shooter, while Betts would have to demonstrate that her nascent midranger is reliable and that she can finish efficiently around the basket at the pro level.