Too-Early Storm Starting Lineup Projection For 2026 Season
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Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga (14) works against Minnesota Lynx forward Jessica Shepard (15) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images [/caption]
The Seattle Storm more than likely have their roster set for training camp after a whirlwind 10 days that included free agency, the WNBA Draft and the post-draft signing period, where the team brought in training camp tryout players.
Currently, the Storm’s roster is at 19 players. Only eight of those players were with the team at all in 2025, and only five actually played regular-season minutes for Seattle.
Training camp begins on Sunday, April 19, before the Storm play their first preseason game on Saturday, April 25, on the road at the Golden State Valkyries.
Storm 19-player roster
* denotes rookie
Guards
Natisha Hiedeman
Flau’jae Johnson*
Lexie Brown
Zia Cooke
Taina Mair*
Jade Melbourne
Elle Ladine*
Jaelyn Brown
Jalyn Brown*
Forwards
Jordan Horston
Mackenzie Holmes
Grace VanSlooten*
Beatrice Mompremier
Rennia Davis
Centers
Ezi Magbegor
Dominique Malonga
Awa Fam Thiam*
Stefanie Dolson
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Awa Fam Thiam who was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images [/caption]
Roster analysis
The Storm, like all other WNBA teams, will now be required to carry 12 players on the opening day roster. There’s a lot of versatility overall, particularly because the team has a few players who can play multiple positions (Horston being the top example).
Before the Storm got Johnson in the draft night trade, the front court appeared to be unnecessarily overcrowded, while they still had a bit of a hole at shooting guard. It did create a situation, however, where it would be interesting to see if head coach Sonia Raman would deploy a big starting lineup of Hiedeman, Horston, Fam, Malonga and Magbegor.
Fam (6-foot-4) would be a big small forward, but she could make it work with her skill set as a sneaky good passer and creator.
But Fam would be better having some time to develop and adapt to the WNBA off the bench. The addition of Johnson gives Raman that flexibility, even if it means putting another rookie into the mix as a starter.
That big lineup will likely still come into play at various points throughout the season. It’s hard to imagine Raman wouldn’t take advantage of having multiple players on the court who can shoot over the top of the defense and cover the entire court with their length.
Dolson, who is on a $750,000 protected contract, has to factor in somewhere, though she almost certainly won’t be in the starting lineup.
Even though Hiedeman appears to be the de facto point guard option, it’ll be interesting to see where Mair fits into the competition. Cooke, Brown and Melbourne function better as shooting guards, making the Storm’s point guard position limited to essentially just Mair and Hiedeman.
Then, of course, there’s Malonga and Magbegor, who will be the pillars of the starting lineup. Magbegor is the rim-protecting center, while Malonga will be the dynamic scorer and defender from the power forward spot as she tries to take another leap in her second season.
Projected starting lineup, first 3 off bench
G Natisha Heideman
G Flau’jae Johnson
G/F Jordan Horston
F/C Dominique Malonga
C Ezi Magbegor
(G Jade Melbourne)
(C Stefanie Dolson)
(F Awa Fam Thiam)
Fam may seem low in the lineup for being the No. 3 overall pick, but they don’t need to thrust her into a starting role. She’s a raw talent with an exceptionally high ceiling, and the presence of Magbegor and Malonga allows her to develop into what her long-term role will be.
Hiedeman, after an impressive finish to the 2025 regular season with the Minnesota Lynx, gets a chance to run an offense full-time. She has shown strong potential to be able to pull that off.
Horston coming back is huge, as she’s a positionless weapon who can be slotted almost anywhere. Her defense is a welcome trait in the starting lineup as well. Malonga and Magbegor get to keep doing what they did in 2025: anchoring the Storm’s frontcourt.
Melbourne makes sense as the first player off the bench to alleviate pressure on Johnson, and she could sub in for Hiedeman if needed as well in certain lineups. Dolson is the sub for either Magbegor or Malonga and Fam is the flex player who can slot into either the front or backcourt.
Considering where this team appeared to be trending just a few weeks ago, this is a solid lineup for a team that is supposed to be rebuilding. They still have a long way to go to compete for a playoff spot, but it’s a team that could surprise many people if the new pieces mesh well.
This roster can only exceed expectations given the franchise’s current plans. They are building for the future and are only in year one of reloading.
