WNBA Draft 2016 Preview: Seattle Storm


2015 Record:
10-24

Key Offseason Moves:
Re-signed Crystal Langhorne, Ramu Tokashiki, Alysha Clark, Jenna O’Hea, Sue Bird, Angel Goodrich and Quanitra Hollingsworth
Lauren Jackson announced retirement (had missed previous three seasons)

Last Year’s Draft Picks:
1st Round/1st Overall: Jewell Loyd
1st Round/3rd Overall: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis
2nd Round/20th Overall: Vicky McIntyre
3rd Round/26th Overall: Nneka Enemkpali

This Year’s Draft Picks:
1st Round/1st Overall
3rd Round/26th Overall

Season Highlights:

 

Team Needs:
The Seattle Storm’s rebuild began last season with an infusion of young talent, led by No. 1 overall pick and eventual Rookie of the Year Jewell Loyd and No. 3 overall pick Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. Combining youth with veteran rocks Sue Bird and Crystal Langhorne, the Storm showed glimmers of hope for the upcoming season.

Those glimmers turned into a bold spotlight when the Storm won the Draft lottery for the second straight year, with all eyes pointing to UConn star forward Breanna Stewart heading to the Pacific Northwest. When it is time to rebuild, you need young talent, and with two of the top three picks a year ago and the consensus No. 1 pick coming next week, the Storm are well on their way back to playoff contention.

This isn’t the first time the Storm have had back-to-back No. 1 overall picks in the WNBA Draft. In 2001 and 2002, the Storm selected Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird, respectively, to establish the foundation of a perennial playoff team that won two championships. Now they are set to do it again, and they have the benefit of still having Bird on the team to serve as a mentor to the young players coming into the WNBA.