Storm Roster Roundup: Can Alysha Clark Still Contribute in 13th WNBA Season?
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Seattle Storm small forward Alysha Clark surveys the floor against the Minnesota Lynx on July 17, 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.
A key piece of the Seattle Storm’s 2020 WNBA championship, 12-year veteran forward Alysha Clark is back with the team. Will she play a big role in 2025?
Background
Clark was a prep star at Mt. Juliet High School in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. She averaged 24 points and 11.6 rebounds as a senior, committing to Belmont University in Nashville. Clark was dominant in two seasons at Belmont from 2005–07 before transferring to Middle Tennessee. In Clark’s senior campaign (2009–10), she totaled 28.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game. As a result, Clark was named a Second Team AP All-American.
The San Antonio Silver Stars (now Las Vegas Aces) selected Clark 17th overall in the second round of the 2010 WNBA Draft. However, Clark didn’t make a WNBA roster until 2012 when she landed with the Storm — playing overseas in the meantime. During her career, Clark has played for seven different overseas clubs.
But Clark stuck with Seattle, winning two WNBA championships with the franchise in 2018 and 2020. She played nine seasons with Storm, averaging 6.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals in 273 career games (200 starts) with the team. Clark’s best season was in 2020 when she was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team and finished the campaign with per-game averages of 10 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals. She was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Clark still ranks fifth all-time in franchise history in games played.
Clark signed with the Washington Mystics for the 2021 season but was out the entire year with a Lisfranc injury. Returning to the Mystics in 2022, Clark started all 29 games for Washington and posted solid production. She then won a third WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023 and was named Sixth Player of the Year.
Last season, Clark had her lowest statistical output since 2014 while with the Aces. She signed with the Storm on Feb. 9, returning to the franchise where she built her long career.
Best Case Scenario
Despite turning 38 during this upcoming season, Clark may still be one of the first players off the bench for the Storm. The best-case scenario would be Clark winning back-to-back Sixth Player of the Year awards, adding to her impressive resume. If she produces similar numbers to last season (6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals), Clark could be exactly the rotational small forward Seattle needs. Over 20 minutes per game off the bench as a 3-point specialist and threat in the paint would be impressive in her 13th WNBA season.
Worst Case Scenario
Clark’s salary is unprotected even though it’s the fifth-highest figure on Seattle’s roster, according to Spotrac. That makes her situation volatile, and there’s a chance she doesn’t even make the roster if rookies manage to edge her out. Additionally, of the five players currently with protected contracts, three are posts. Clark can stretch the floor with her 3-point shooting ability, which varies her game, so she still has that in her favor. Though she will probably be on the roster, Seattle does have the option to waive her without impact on the salary cap. That leaves the door open.
What to Expect in 2025
There is probably a middle ground between Clark being a Sixth Player of the Year candidate and being off the roster, and that’s a logical expectation for her age-38 season. Clark is familiar with the franchise and the fans even though it has been four seasons since she last wore a Storm uniform. If Clark were waived, it would be an unceremonious end to her Seattle career after bringing her back.
Her $185,000 salary is hefty but also suggests the team expects her to be a key addition. The lack of protection, however, is clearly to give the Storm flexibility if they had to make rapid change.
It’s hard to see a situation where Clark isn’t on the final roster heading into the regular season, but it isn’t hard to imagine her having an even more reduced role than she had with the Aces last season. Training camp will be critical to learning more about Clark’s situation with the team.
