Seattle Storm

2009 Finish

20-14, 2nd in Western Conference. Lost in Western Conference Semifinals.

Departures

  • Shannon Johnson, G-F

    • Arrivals

  • Devanei Hampton, F
  • Jana Vesel�, F
  • Le'coe Willingham, F-C

    • Returning Players

  • Suzy Batkovic-Brown, C
  • Sue Bird, G
  • Janell Burse, C
  • Swin Cash, F
  • Katie Gearlds, G-F
  • Lauren Jackson, F
  • Camille Little, F
  • Chelsea Newton, G
  • Ashley Walker, F-C
  • Tanisha Wright, G

    • Free Agents

  • Ashley Robinson, C (UFA)

    • Needs

  • Backcourt scoring
  • Rebounding

    • Analysis

    The Storm took care of the biggest item on the offseason agenda by re-signing do-everything forward Lauren Jackson. Now comes the tricky part: figuring out just where exactly this team needs to improve in order to finally get past the opening round of playoffs for the first time since 2004. The big addition comes in the form of power forward Le'coe Willingham, who helped the Mercury win a WNBA title last season. Willingham is an underrated force down low and should help out Seattle on the boards, although the team could still stand to get better in that area. During last year's postseason series with the Los Angeles Sparks, the Storm were outrebounded by a margin of 115-77 over a three-game span. Ouch. But Seattle is also in desperate need of some scoring. Last season, the team averaged only 74.8 points per game, which was the third-worst clip in the league. Some of that is a result of the fact that coach Brian Agler and his crew take a defensive-minded approach and preferring to slow games down. And as talented as Sue Bird is, she's much more comfortable setting players up rather than finding her own shot. Still, if the Storm want to overtake such teams as the Sparks and Mercury out West, they are going to need to increase their scoring output, so a backcourt player or small forward with some scoring prowess would make sense for Seattle in this draft.

    2010 Selections

  • No. 10 (R1)
  • No. 22 (R2)
  • No. 34 (R3)

    • Recent Draft History

    200920082007
    12. Ashley Walker 22. Allie Quigley7. Katie Gearlds
    38. Mara Freshour 36. Kimberly Beck33. Brandie Hoskins