Veteran firepower and fresh faces are driven by Seattle's season »Winsidr

Seattle's storm increases with a strong mix of experienced leadership, aspiring talents and a promising rookie class back – which is positioned in the 2025 WNBA season as a legitimate competitor as a legitimate competitor. Franchise anchor Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor Headline A dynamic core that is determined to make a deeper playoff print. The squad was attached with important additions, including the 6-foot 7-Chinese national team center Li Yueru (Lee Yuh-Roo), the versatile striker Katie Lou Samuelson, the three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark and the WNBA-Champion Lexie Brown.

Since several players fail due to injuries, there have been real opportunities for a trio promising newcomers from the WNBA design of 2025 and younger talents who fought to secure a place. Their continued development could be decisive because the storm has the right balance between experience and young people throughout the season.

Lose keys

The storm in Seattle faces the 2025 season early when the striker Jordan Horston and Wachmann Nika Mühlen were put on the suspended list outside of the season after ACL injuries. Mühl suffered her injury in October when she played for the Turkish club Beşiktaş, while Horston went down in February during the unlimited competition of the athletes.

Horston, Seattle's 2023 in the first round and the team's top reserve last season (6.8 ppg, 4.3 RPG), should already miss the year due to the time of its injury. Mühlen, a promising 2024 second round, had hope for a possible return in the late season, but the storm has confirmed since then that both players will expose the entire 2025 season.

Their absence makes the depth of Seattle and the squad decisions that come out of the training camp even more crucial. The storm enters the camp with 16 players – including several new additions.

Lose loyd

The decision of the Seattle Storm to part with the long -time Star Jewell Loyd was the end of an era – but it could only be the beginning of something better. Loyd, a two-time champion, six-time all-star, and the 2023 WNBA value leader had been the face of the franchise for a decade. Your family tree is undeniable. After he had applied for a trade in terms of internal tensions and an investigation of the alleged abuse – which ultimately did not find any violations – a difficult selection was confronted with a difficult choice. However, what you won in return could redesign the future of the franchise. The blockbuster deal brought the storm number 2 in the overall design of the 2025 draft (used on the French phenomon Dominique Malonga), a selection in the first round of 2026 and promising center Li Yueru. For many it felt like subtraction. When she continued from Loyd, she created space for a new identity and a better rhythm on and next to the space, which is based on youth, versatility and long-term upward trend. It is rare to swap a player of Loyd's caliber and look more, but thanks to the experienced maneuvers and a loaded rookie class, the storm may have exhausted him.

New faces, fresh hope

Seattle was reloaded in the 2025 WNBA design by selecting Dominique Malonga as No. 2 overall election. The 19-year-old phenomenon from France achieved an average of 15.4 points and 10.3 rebounds for ASVEL Féminin and was appointed European player of the year and the year of the year. Malonga has drawn early comparisons with Victor Wembanyama for her rare mixture of size and skill as well as her French roots. While some questions are ready to be faced with an experienced WNBA competition at a young age, Malonga has made it clear that she is ready to take part in the highest level. Despite thisDominique Malonga was on Sunday on the first day of the Seattle Storm training camp, according to Kevin Pelton von ESPN. Storm head coach Noelle Quinn said Pelton that “the team does not yet have a schedule for their arrival.” In a more calming note, Quinn emphasized that you will stay in contact with Malonga and said: “We are in communication with her. We will receive some updates this week.” The storm could really use Malonga in her rotation so that we are waiting to see if it arrives and how it fits the storm installation.

In the third round, the storm added three high views that could prove to be steals:

• Serena Sundell (No. 26) -The Kansas State Guard and the assist leaders of BIG 12 achieved an average of 14.1 points and 7.3 templates per game. It is an important coup to land a playmaker of your caliber.
• Madison Conner (No. 29)-A sniper of TCU, Conner, led the NCAA with 128 three-clays manufactured and scored 16.4 points per game.
• Jordan Hobbs (No. 34)-a 6'3 '' striker from Michigan received Hobbs after an average of 13.6 points and 4.8 rebounds all-big loborable mention.

These tips reflect a strong strategy from Seattle, and many would call it astonishing to acquire a talent like Sundell in the third round. However, it will not be easy to crack an experienced storm plan for an intensive and exciting training camp.

Seattle Storm 2025 squad projection: Who is locked up, who is on the bladder? (11-player limit)

What can be seen

• Growth of the young talent: When will Dominique Malonga arrive in Seattle? Approx.n does it make it early for minutes? Will she be able to achieve an immediate effect? Will Serena Sundell or one of the other newcomers secure a place on the squad?
• Defense adjustments: Who will with Jordan Horston and Nika Mühl, who appear as the primary perimeter of the storm?
• Team chemistry: How quickly can the storm find its rhythm when new rotations, experienced players and newcomers fight for playing time? The team's ability to get jelly will be crucial for success this season.
• Pressure on Noelle Quinn: As head coach of a reload, Quinn is exposed to the pressure to win now. Apart from the challenge of managing a newly looking team, there is an additional weight to be the only black head coach in the WNBA-a role that has unspoken expectations and the need to break barriers for future generations.

Last thoughts

The storm in Seattle may only be the candidate that nobody speaks of. While other teams dominate the headlines, the storm quietly had one of the best offsasons that convert with a mixture of continuity from their core parts, the addition of an experienced guidance and the exciting rookie potential. With the unshakable support of the franchise for its players and a culture that promotes the development, you are ready to surprise the league. If everything comes together, the storm could be very well created to one of the most dangerous teams in the WNBA and combine experience with youthful energy in search of another championship.