Which Storm Free Agents Should the Franchise Prioritize Re-Signing?

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The Seattle Storm have just four players under contract for 2026. The front office and new coaching staff will have to make tough decisions on who to re-sign and who to let go. Credit: John Mac [/caption]

It’s an uncertain offseason for the Seattle Storm, particularly with how the yet-to-be-agreed-on CBA will impact free agency. The salary cap will undoubtedly be higher, which means it’s almost impossible to predict the amount going to individual players.

However, it isn’t too early to theorize which players would be beneficial to the 2026 roster — particularly among the players who were with the team last season.

Here’s a look at Seattle’s impending free agents, and who the team should prioritize bringing back for at least another year.

Must-have re-signings

F Nneka Ogwumike

2025 stats: 18.3 ppg, 7.0 reb, 2.3 ast, 1.1 stl (51.9% FG, 36.7% 3FG, 82.2% FT)

Ogwumike is at the top of the list in terms of priority for the Storm. 

They will be building a much younger roster in 2026, but Ogwumike appeared to have a close relationship with 2025 No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga. Seattle’s best young player having at least two years under a mentor would be extremely beneficial to her long-term development.

Ogwumike will turn 36 next season, but she clearly still had enough gas in the tank to play 30 minutes per game last season. She doesn’t seem to be slowing down, and Ogwumike was still the Storm’s best player in 2025.

G/F Gabby Williams

2025 stats: 11.6 ppg, 4.3 reb, 4.2 ast, 2.3 stl, 0.5 blk (42.2% FG, 30.5% 3FG, 85.3% FT)

Williams is one of the best defensive players in the league, and she represented the Storm at the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery. That shows she is still engaging with the franchise despite not being under contract, which is a positive sign for her relationship with the team.

She continues to be disappointing on offense, but Williams has her moments of excellence. That’s why the Storm need quality offensive pieces around her — such as Ogwumike — to allow Williams to play her role. They don’t want to rely on her as a No. 1 scoring option.

Retaining Williams immediately boosts the floor of the Storm’s defense, which is where most of her value remains. That’s worth it for Seattle.

Only in the right situation

PG Skylar Diggins

2025 stats: 15.5 ppg, 2.5 reb, 6.0 ast, 1.2 stl, 0.8 blk (42.3% FG, 36.5% 3FG, 78.8% FT)

Diggins was great for the Storm in 2025, but Seattle will have a prime opportunity to get a potential star guard in the draft with the No. 3 overall pick. With Nika Mühl and Lexie Brown also expected to be in the mix, Diggins may not be viewed as a necessary re-signing.

Like Ogwumike, Diggins will be 36 during the 2026 season. But Ogwumike, overall, was much more valuable last season and is positionally more difficult to replace.

G Erica Wheeler

2025 stats: 10.3 ppg, 2.7 reb, 3.3 ast, 1.3 stl (40% FG, 37.3% 3FG, 86% FT)

Wheeler, 34, might be more likely to return than Diggins, particularly because the Storm could potentially sell her on a lesser role. Her leadership was key to the Storm’s culture last season, and a piece of continuity could be important to next season’s roster.

There was no more surprising standout in 2025 than Wheeler, and it appears she wanted to remain in Seattle. Wheeler was also the team’s best 3-point shooter, which will still be needed.

Young players worth developing

F/C Mackenzie Holmes

2025 stats: 1.0 ppg, 0.9 reb, 0.2 ast, 0.5 stl (71.4% FG)

Holmes showed promise in the preseason, and she could be a legitimate contributor in the post next to Malonga if given the chance. Seattle didn’t have much room to work her into the lineup last season, but her full season of WNBA experience could propel her to being much improved in her second campaign.

Additionally, Holmes is one of two reserved free agents (Zia Cooke), making her easier to retain.

G Zia Cooke

2025 stats: 3.5 ppg, 0.5 reb, 0.5 ast, 0.4 stl (35.7% FG, 39.5% 3FG, 65.2% FT)

Cooke, a former No. 10 overall pick in 2023, hasn’t been able to put together all the tools so far in her short WNBA career, but that doesn’t mean she’s a lost cause. She’s soon to be 25 years old and has plenty of time to develop in the right scenario. Cooke would also contribute to the Storm’s 3-point shooting next to Lexie Brown.

Let them walk

G Brittney Sykes

2025 stats (with Storm): 11.8 ppg, 2.7 reb, 3.3 ast, 1.2 stl (38.6% FG, 27.8% 3FG, 77% FT)

The Sykes trade, in hindsight, didn’t pan out well at all. Seattle did get one playoff win, but sending the Washington Mystics a first-round pick for a rental was the team going all in on a championship run. It didn’t work out that way.

Sykes simply wasn’t consistent in her brief Seattle stint, even if her defensive skills raise her overall floor. Another team will likely pay her more money than the Storm should.

C Ezi Magbegor

2025 stats: 8.0 ppg, 6.2 reb, 2.1 ast, 0.7 stl, 2.2 blk (49.3% FG, 29.2% 3PT, 68.7% FT)

In the WNBA today, elite centers are effective on both ends of the court. Magbegor is an offensive liability on the interior, and she doesn’t rebound well enough to justify the minutes she got in 2025. She entered last season as the longest-tenured player on the roster, but it’s time to find another option.

F Katie Lou Samuelson

2025 stats: N/A

Samuelson was out the entire season with a knee injury after expecting to be a solid backup to Ogwumike. With Jordan Horston returning from injury next season, Samuelson likely wouldn’t have much of a role with the team.

G Tiffany Mitchell

2025 stats (with Storm): 2.9 ppg, 0.6 reb (39.3% FG, 41.2% 3FG, 66.7% FT)

Mitchell saw time early in her 23-game stint with the Storm, but her playing time significantly trailed off. At 31 years old, the Storm can find younger options who have a similar skill set heading into 2026.