LEAGUE PASS
TICKETS

Select Team

2021 WNBA Team Preview: Seattle Storm

From one historic season to another, the WNBA’s 25th season is set to tip off on May 14th. The league will commemorate the 25th season with the campaign “Count It” and a distinguishing and purposeful 25th season logo. The WNBA will also celebrate the ways its players have shattered expectations and have stood at the forefront of advancement, inclusion and social change for 25 years.

In leading up to the season, WNBA.com will break down each team in the league: up next, the Seattle Storm.

The 2020 WNBA Champions made significant roster changes – and announced a fresh logo – this off-season. But with steady vets like Sue Bird, Candice Dupree and Jewell Loyd – plus perhaps the most consistent winner in recent basketball history with Breanna Stewart – the Seattle Storm will look to run it back in 2021.

2020 Season Recap

  • Won the 2020 WNBA title over the Las Vegas Aces (3-0) for the franchise’s 4th championship
  • 18-4 regular season record; 2nd in league

Notable Off-Season Moves

Free agency was a whirlwind and the Storm were no exception. Seattle lost Alysha Clark (Washington Mystics) and Natasha Howard (New York Liberty), two key pieces in this past year’s title run. The team acquired Katie Lou Samuelson (Dallas Wings) and KiKi Herbert Harrigan (Minnesota Lynx) in the process.

On Feb. 1, the Storm resigned veteran guard Epiphanny Prince. On week later Crystal Langhorne retired and joined Seattle’s front office as the Director of Community Engagement. 15-year WNBA vet Dupree was signed that same day.

The Big Question Heading Into 2021?

Will a slew of offensive production be able to make up for major losses on defense?

Seattle has core scoring production guaranteed in Stewart, Bird, and Loyd – as well as guards like Jordin Canada and Haley Gorecki, and Samuelson, who can shoot the ball too. But losing Clark and Howard, particularly as a paint presence and rim protecting force, provides one of the biggest questions for the Storm.

Draft Rating

Michelle Smith ranked every team’s draft decisions. Seattle was rated 7th out of the 12 WNBA teams’ picks.

“Taking Aaliyah Wilson of Texas A&M with a first-round pick and then trading her to Indiana for Kennedy Burke – who will reunite with former Bruin teammate Jordin Canada – means the Storm leaned toward a player with some WNBA experience. But picking up Stanford’s Kiana Williams with the No. 18 pick also looks smart as Williams is a proven leader who makes good decisions on the floor and will learn a lot from Sue Bird and Canada if she can stick around.”

Where to Watch

Seattle tips off the season against none other than the Aces, who they defeated in this past year’s WNBA Finals, on Saturday, May 15 at 3 pm/ET on ABC.