Gabby Williams is returning to the Seattle Storm, ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou reported on Sunday afternoon. Williams was given the core designation by the Storm final month, which means that her solely approach out of the group can be asking for a commerce. Phillippou reported that Williams, nevertheless, wished to remain in Seattle and opted to signal a one-year, supermax contract.
Breaking: Gabby Williams is signing a one-year deal to return to the Seattle Storm, sources advised ESPN.
She was cored by the Storm final month. Though the workforce agreed to maneuver her if she wished to play elsewhere, sources mentioned, Williams wished to stay in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/OOLknI3oSk
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) February 9, 2025
What Gabby Williams brings to the Seattle Storm
Final season, Gabby Williams joined the Storm midseason, after the Olympic break, and averaged 10.2 factors, 4 rebounds, and three.7 assists in 12 video games. Williams didn’t play within the WNBA within the first half of the yr as she was with the French nationwide workforce. Largely on account of Williams’ play, France earned a silver medal on the Paris Olympics.
In her 6-year WNBA profession, Williams has averaged 7.3 factors, 3.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals. An elite wing defender, she was named to the All-Defensive Second Staff in 2022, her final full WNBA season.
How good can Seattle be subsequent WNBA season?
The Storm are operating it again with an analogous core as final yr’s — Nneka Ogwumike introduced she’d be re-signing final month, and Skylar Diggins-Smith and Ezi Magbegor are beneath contract. From a personnel standpoint, the Storm has the potential to be one of many league’s strongest defenses.
Ogwumike was one of many league’s finest two-way gamers in 2024, in the end being named to the All-WNBA Second Staff. And, Diggins-Smith had a robust yr again after sitting out the 2023 season on maternity depart — she averaged 15.1 factors, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals for Seattle. She’s seemed even higher enjoying this offseason in Unequalled, a brand new skilled 3-on-3 basketball for among the WNBA’s high gamers. Magbegor established herself as one of many league’s high defenders, being named to the All-Defensive First Staff for the primary time in her profession.
However, Jewell Loyd, as soon as believed to be Seattle’s franchise participant, requested a commerce after an up-and-down and was subsequently despatched to the Las Vegas Aces. In return, the Storm acquired heart Li Yueru from the Los Angeles Sparks and the No. 2 general decide within the 2025 draft. Yueru gave the Sparks good minutes off the bench final yr, averaging 5.1 factors and three.7 rebounds in 14.4 minutes, however she’s nonetheless within the developmental section of her profession.
As well as, the Storm signed former Sixth Participant of the Yr Alysha Clark. Clark averaged 6 factors, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, taking pictures 44.3% from the sector and 37.3% from three.
Jordan Horston, who was a standout rookie final season, reportedly suffered an ACL damage in an Athletes Limitless sport on Feb. 7, per WNBA reporter Roberta Rodrigues. Whether or not that damage will affect her availability subsequent season stays to be seen, but when she misses the yr, it might be a considerable loss for Seattle.
Final yr, the Storm underachieved, ending the season with a 25-15 file and being swept within the first spherical of the playoffs in opposition to the Aces. However, on paper, they could possibly be poised to be an elite workforce if the items come collectively. Whether or not they can run it again with an analogous group and make a leap towards true championship competition stays to be seen. Bringing again Gabby Williams is a superb first step.
