Storm Activate Awa Fam, Sign Joyner Holmes to Hardship Contract
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Las Vegas Aces forward Joyner Holmes (8) shoots the ball over Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images [/caption]
The Seattle Storm made two moves ahead of their second straight bout with the Connecticut Sun on Friday, May 22, at Climate Pledge Arena.
Seattle activated rookie No. 3 overall pick Awa Fam now that she has joined the team and also signed forward Joyner Holmes to a hardship contract on Friday.
The Storm have been without Ezi Magbegor since the season began, and Dominique Malonga has now missed two games due to a concussion. Her status for Friday’s game against the Sun is uncertain, but the signing of Holmes suggests she will still be on the sidelines.
Fam fills the roster spot created by third-round rookie Grace VanSlooten, whom the Storm waived on Monday, May 18. Seattle already has both of its developmental player spots filled by Taylor Thierry and Taina Mair, so VanSlooten is unlikely to return unless one of those players is let go.
The additions of Fam and Holmes bring the Storm up to 10 healthy players for Friday’s game, assuming Malonga will remain out. Whether Fam will play many minutes, however, is another big question. Fam just wrapped up a championship-winning campaign with Valencia in Spain on May 17.
Holmes was a 2020 second-round pick by the Storm, but she wasn’t with the team long. She was waived and eventually signed with the New York Liberty later in the season. Holmes returned to the Storm in 2023 after multiple stops with other teams and most recently spent time with the Las Vegas Aces last season.
Now in her third stint with the Storm, Holmes is back with the team that drafted her. It may not be for long, but she will be a reserve option for at least a few games.
Are Storm better off than before?
Malonga and Magbegor on the sidelines is the main thing holding this roster back currently. The Storm have only gotten two full games out of Malonga this season, and Magbegor has been sidelined and will be for a while.
How quickly Fam can acclimate and begin playing consistent minutes for the Storm will be a major factor in their success. But she also may not flourish until the Storm are healthier and she can slot into her long-term role.
Overall, Fam joining the Storm makes them better off. It just comes at an already-rough time when the team may be set to slide further. As talented as Fam is, she’s unlikely to single-handedly turn this team around in its current state.
Holmes will merely be a depth option. The Storm needed to bring her in to have options outside of their developmental players, who can only be activated for 12 games per season.
