Seattle Storm’s journey in the 2024 WNBA regular season has largely been about building chemistry to recover from a disappointing 11-29 record last season. The addition of Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith through free agency was expected to secure a playoff spot for the Storm, but it was clear that they needed time to gel with Jewell Loyd, the leading scorer from 2023, to become true championship contenders.
Seattle made promising strides before the mid-July Olympic break with a 17-8 record, but they have faltered since then, losing five of their last seven games and dropping to fifth place in the league standings with concerning trends emerging.
A major concern for the Storm is their poor rebounding performance, with only 66.2% of defensive rebounds and 44.4% of total rebounds secured since the break, ranking them last in the WNBA. The team’s rebounding woes were highlighted in a loss to the New York Liberty, where they were outrebounded 45-17.
Head coach Noelle Quinn expressed disappointment with the team’s rebounding, emphasizing the need to secure rebounds to prevent giving up second-chance points and easy baskets.
Despite being a solid defensive team with a low defensive rating, the Storm have allowed significant second-chance points and points in the paint since the break, leading to high opponent scores.
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Gabby Williams’ return to the Storm has been overshadowed by the team’s rebounding struggles. Despite her individual strengths, the team has not been able to remedy their issues on the boards.
Williams’ addition was meant to enhance the team’s depth and playmaking abilities. Her track record of scoring and playmaking skills could be crucial for the Storm’s success, especially in improving defensive prowess alongside Jordan Horston.
With only two weeks left in the regular season, the Storm must address their rebounding deficiencies to avoid an early exit from the playoffs and make a championship push.
