WNBA not investigating Storm coaching staff after cursing claim

WASHINGTON — A report that the WNBA has launched an investigation into the Storm coaching staff is inaccurate, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Post on Wednesday. 

The source explained that a complaint was filed to the league after a Storm assistant cursed at an Aces player in the postgame handshake line following Las Vegas’ 75-70 win in Seattle on Sunday.

The league reviewed the allegation, but nothing more seemingly came of it. To call the exploration into the query an investigation is an “overstatement,” according to the source. 

This season marks Noelle Quinn’s fourth season as Seattle’s head coach. She’s led the Storm to a 4-4 record this season and is 62-62 with two postseason berths.

But Wednesday’s news was the second conflict to saddle Quinn’s staff in less than seven months. 

The Chicago Sun-Times reported in November that the Storm hired a third-party firm to investigate allegations of player mistreatment by the coaching staff. Jewell Loyd was outed as the center of those allegations. 

Less than a month later, the investigation into alleged harassment and bullying concluded with no violations found, and Loyd requested a trade from the Storm.

She was dealt to the Aces as part of a three-team trade that sent Kelsey Plum to Los Angeles and the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft to Seattle. 

The source stressed Wednesday’s report had nothing to do with the Storm’s initial investigation. 

A request for comment from Loyd through the Aces wasn’t immediately returned. The Storm didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment. 

After leading the Liberty to a 7-0 start, Sandy Brondello was named Coach of the Month for May, the WNBA announced Wednesday. 

In six games, the Liberty posted a league-best 90.5 points and 24.5 assists per game. They also set a regular-season league record when they made 19 3-pointers against the Sky. New York’s net rating of 19.1 puts it at the top of the league, too. 

Brondello said the monthly honor is as much a reflection of her and her coaching staff as it is the players executing the game plan. 

“It’s a testament to all of us really,” Brondello said. “We’re 7-0, we’re happy with where we’re at, but we know what we got, still got room for improvement and got to keep growing.” 

Nyara Sabally, who’s missed five straight games, is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game at the Mystics. Sabally participated in at least some of Wednesday’s practice, and Brondello said the third-year center has been “building up” for her return. 

“It’s more, like, making sure Nyara feels good. That’s important for us,” Brondello said. “She’s getting more confident in the knee and then … it’s reloading her now and then being smart about that. And we’ll take information from the performance staff.” 

Sabally surely would add another layer to an already dynamic Liberty offense with her rolling abilities and post-up skills. But the Liberty are playing the long game with Sabally, making sure she’s available when the team needs her most. 

“We’re cautious, [and] we’re making sure she’s good to go,” Brondello said. “We’re winning, so we don’t need to bring her back early. Let’s think big picture [with] her and make her feel confident in what she’s done because she’s so critical.”