Seattle Storm Roster Roundup: What Could Gabby Williams Do With Full Season?
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Former Chicago Sky and current Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams in a game against the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 27, 2019. Credit: Lorie Shaull [/caption]
The Seattle Storm are nearing the WNBA Draft on April 14 and will begin their preseason soon after on May 4. It will be head coach Noelle Quinn’s fifth season leading the franchise and the first without franchise legend Jewell Loyd, ushering in a new era of Storm basketball.
As the 2025 season approaches, we will profile each of the 14 players currently on Seattle’s roster, exploring the best- and worst-case scenarios for each player while also examining realistic expectations. Then we will discuss the team’s draft selections and what they could add to the team.
Compiling one of the more complicated basketball careers among Storm players, guard and forward Gabby Williams could be slated to play her first full WNBA season since 2022. How big of a factor will she be in 2025?
Background
Born in Sparks, Nevada, Williams (5-foot-11) played her prep career at Edward C. Reed High School. Williams won a state title as a sophomore but suffered a season-ending knee injury as a junior. Still, following a dominant high school career, Williams committed to UConn as part of the 2014 recruiting class.
Williams was a two-time national champion with the Huskies, reaching at least the Final Four in all four seasons with a career 148-3 collegiate record. She was a full-time starter in the final two seasons. Williams posted her best campaign as a junior in 2016–17, averaging 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Continuing her stellar defense as a senior, Williams earned WBCA and AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017.
The Chicago Sky selected Williams No. 4 overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She played in all but one of Chicago’s 90 games during her first three seasons. Williams was essentially a full-time starter as a rookie before starting just six games over the next two campaigns. She was instantly a defensive force, carrying that impact over from her time at UConn.
Beginning in 2021, Williams’ overseas commitments began to conflict with her WNBA obligations. Williams, whose mother is French, retains dual citizenship. She has played with various international clubs and the French national team. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics shifted back to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Williams’ Olympic commitments didn’t allow her to return in time for WNBA training camp. Chicago suspended Williams and traded her to the Los Angeles Sparks before the WNBA season began.
After leading France to a silver medal, Williams was forced to miss the entire 2021 season due to the suspension. She never played a single game for the Sparks, as LA traded her to the Storm in February 2022. Williams filled the role of versatile, defensive specialist for Seattle in 2022, starting all 36 games and averaging 7.5 points, 5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Williams’ 2023 season was shortened initially by a concussion sustained in overseas play and then by a season-ending foot injury. She appeared in 10 games (eight starts) but also logged a career-low shooting percentage of just 36 percent.
Though it was originally reported Williams may not play in the WNBA at all in 2024, she re-signed with the Storm in late August after earning a silver medal with France in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Williams played in 12 games and made 11 starts, averaging a career-high 10.3 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals.
Williams was vocal in 2024 about re-signing with a team that wouldn’t use the core player designation on her, but the Storm did so anyway this offseason. She signed with the team on Feb. 9, making it known she wanted to remain in Seattle.
Best Case Scenario
Williams is expected to continue playing a versatile role for the Storm. Though she is designated as a small forward, the 28-year-old has been a “French Army knife” — as head coach Noel Quinn coined it — for Seattle in recent seasons. She’s been arguably the team’s top defender and is still growing offensively.
If she plays her first full WNBA season since 2022, the Storm will benefit greatly from having her in the lineup full-time. It could lead to Williams breaking out and making her first All-Star appearance with the consistency of playing a full campaign.
Considering Williams started most of the games she was available last season, it’s expected she will fill that spot again. An All-Star season would be a massive boost as Seattle tries to return to being a goliath in the postseason.
Worst Case Scenario
Injuries must be factored into these profiles, and Williams has had unfortunate injury luck the last few seasons. The worst-case scenario would be a third straight season where Williams is only available part-time due to either injuries or international basketball obligations. At that point, considering Williams is already six seasons into her career, there would have to be questions about whether she will ever be a reliable roster member.
Statistical regression isn’t a concern for Williams — her availability is. Seattle would have to find a fill-in if she can’t be present the entire season.
What to Expect in 2025
Going on the optimistic route, the Storm valued Williams enough to not want her to become an unrestricted free agent. Though Williams didn’t want the core player designation, her $225,000 salary is now the highest on Seattle’s roster this season. If 2025 is Williams’ best yet, there’s no reason the franchise shouldn’t try and lock her down for multiple seasons.
An All-Star season doesn’t seem far-fetched for Williams. She earned a WNBA All-Defensive Second Team nod in 2022 — the last time she played a full season. With her progression since then, another full season could lead to more accolades for Williams.
Like the other projected starters for Seattle, Williams should have a larger role with Jewell Loyd off of the team. She should be able to take advantage of that if she stays healthy.
