Addressing reporters for the primary time since an exterior investigation into accusations of harassment and bullying by the Seattle Storm’s teaching employees concluded with out discovering any violations, Storm head coach Noelle Quinn stated Tuesday that the method was “a studying expertise.”
“I imagine that the group did the precise factor,” Quinn stated. “All through this complete course of, the communication degree was tremendously excessive. I felt supported in lots of methods and I do know my employees felt supported as effectively. With something like this, you will need to take the precise steps and our group did that.”
Seattle common supervisor Talisa Rhea pointed to the group’s offseason as validation of the best way the investigation was dealt with and of Quinn’s function going ahead.
“First, we let the method play out and that was crucial to us and the integrity of that course of,” Rhea stated. “Second, we have been locked in with Noelle this complete offseason and it has been very clear by our free company conversations that gamers do need to be right here.
“They imagine in what we’re constructing right here in Seattle. They need to play with Noelle. The group that we have now right here is completely purchased in to that. So we’re very assured in Noelle and what she’s capable of do with this group this 12 months.”
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That group will not embrace longtime Storm guard Jewell Loyd, a six-time All-Star who filed the grievance towards the teaching employees, sources instructed ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. Loyd, who received a pair of championships throughout a decade in Seattle, subsequently requested a commerce and was despatched to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team deal that netted the Storm the No. 2 choose in April’s WNBA draft from the Los Angeles Sparks.
“We have had a robust relationship with Jewell and with the ability to be clear and open in our communication,” Rhea stated. “As final season went on and into this offseason, we wished to do what we felt like was finest for our group and Jewell.”
On the similar time, Rhea acknowledged what Loyd achieved in Seattle. Loyd grew to become the face of the franchise after Sue Fowl’s retirement and Breanna Stewart’s departure in free company following the 2022 season, then performed a key function in recruiting veteran All-Stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike to signal with the Storm final 12 months.
“Jewell meant so much to this group,” Rhea stated. “She constructed so much with us right here. Noelle and I’ve been a part of a few championships with Jewell, so this isn’t to remove something that Jewell did throughout her time right here with Seattle. I am very appreciative for that. We are going to proceed to be. We’re excited with how the roster has moved ahead, excited for this 12 months and what we had been capable of do with that commerce.”
After buying and selling Loyd, the Storm prioritized re-signing two starters from final 12 months’s group that went 25-15 earlier than being swept by Las Vegas within the opening spherical of the playoffs. Seattle used the core designation on ahead Gabby Williams and introduced again each Williams and Ogwumike, who was an unrestricted free agent, on one-year offers.
The largest addition for the Storm to date in free company was additionally a well-recognized face: ahead Alysha Clark, who began her WNBA profession in Seattle and was a part of championship groups in 2018 (as a teammate of Quinn’s) and 2020 (with Quinn as an assistant coach) earlier than occurring to win a 3rd WNBA title in 2023 with Las Vegas.
“From our first week, we prioritized Alysha,” Quinn stated. “Clearly a multichampionship participant on this league. Has been in Seattle lots of her profession. We all know what she will do on the defensive finish, however AC may shoot the hell out of the basketball too. Clearly final season, we hung our hat on protection, and lots of occasions we had been defending, however we could not put the ball within the hoop.
“Hopefully this season, we are able to have some steadiness and a few synergy in that. I believe that AC gives that — not solely on the basketball courtroom however within the locker room, the management, the intangibles that we have to proceed to create and preserve this tradition. AC gives that at a excessive degree and he or she has lots of basketball left inside her.”
Wanting forward, the Storm’s most necessary newcomer in all probability will come by the draft. Rhea described the No. 2 choose as a range “that helps you win now and sooner or later.”
After a turbulent offseason, Quinn stated she was excited for the 2025 season and the chance to make an announcement on the courtroom.
“Shifting ahead,” she stated, “the truth that we have now constructed an amazing roster — gamers who need to come and play for me, my employees, need to be part of the group — it would present the followers every part that they should learn about myself and what we’re constructing round Seattle. This can be a top-notch group, a company that stands for excellence and integrity. I lead in that approach and I need to proceed to exemplify that as effectively.”