The Seattle Storm enter the 2021 WNBA Season as the defending champions of the league. For the first time since the 2019 season, and Saturday, the regular season begins when the Storm welcomes the Las Vegas Aces into Angel Winds of the Winds Arena.
Offseason Additions
The Storm has been busy in the offseason making offseason moves to secure the franchises fifth championship this summer in the WNBA season. The Storm this offseason resigned Guard Epiphanny Prince, and in her first season with the Storm, she averaged 4.3 points per game as well as 1.4 assists per game and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Another significant addition to the Storm heading into the season is Candice Dupree, she is one of the league’s all-time best players as she is the fifth all-time scorer in WNBA history, and she is also the sixth-best rebounder in league history. The Storm also resigned the face of the franchise Guard Sue Bird, Bird, who enters her 21st season with the Storm and has played all of her seasons with the Storm. She is the league leader in assists and games played, and for the Storm, she is the franchise leader in points and steals.
The Seattle Storm Offseason Moves Through Trading
Beyond free agency, the Storm was active in the trade market bringing new players to Seattle. The first trade sent Natasha Howard to the New York Liberty, which allowed the Storm to get the first overall pick and two picks in next year’s draft. However, that first pick they acquired from the Liberty traded that to the Dallas Wings. In exchange, the Wings sent Katie Lou Samuelson to Seattle. The Storm also acquired Mikiah Herbert Harrigan in exchange for a first-round pick in next year’s draft. The Storm also acquired Stephanie Talbot from the Liberty in exchange for Sami Whitcomb heads to New York. In their final move of the offseason, the Storm acquired Kennedy Burke, which sent their first-round pick Aaliyah Wilson to the Fever.
The Seattle Storm Additions Through The Draft
As well as the veterans who join the Storm this season, the Storm will also have some rookies who join the roster this year via the WNBA Draft. After trading their first-round pick to the Indiana Fever, there are three rookies on the roster at the moment. With their first pick in the second round, the Storm selected Guard Kiana Williams from Stanford University; last season Williams averaged 14 points per game, 101 assists, and she averaged two rebounds on the season.
With their second selection in the second round of the WNBA Draft, the Storm selected N’Dea Jones, a forward from Texas A&M. In her final season with the Aggies, she scored 12.1 points per game, 27 assists and 288 rebounds. For their final pick, the Storm selected Natalie Kucowski from Lafayette College; last year, Kucowski scored 17.8 points per game, 55 assists and 173 rebounds. The Storm begins their title defense Saturday when the Storm welcomes the Las Vegas Aces in a 12 p.m. game, which will be nationally televised on ABC.
Northwest Sports Desk 