2023 Seattle Storm season

2023 Seattle Storm season
Coach	Noelle Quinn
Arena	Climate Pledge Arena
Attendance	8,929 per game
Results
Record	11–29 (.275)
Place	5th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Team Leaders
Points	Jewell Loyd – 24.7 ppg
Rebounds	Ezi Magbegor – 8.1 rpg
Assists	Gabby Williams – 3.8 apg
← 2022 season 2024 season →

The 2023 Seattle Storm season was the franchise's 24th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and the second full season under head coach Noelle Quinn. Quinn took over in May of the 2021 season.

Seattle started the season slowly, losing all three of their games in May and their first game in June. They would go on to win three more games in June, but would lose seven more to finish the month with a 4–8 record. The team lost their first eight games in July, and combined with two losses to end June, the Storm were on a ten game losing streak. However, they ended the streak with two wins to end July with a 2–8 record. Their reversal of fortunes continued into August as they won three of their first five games in the month. However, they could not continue the momentum and finished the month losing four of six games. They finished August with a 5–6 overall record. The Storm finished the season on a four game losing streak, losing all four of their games in September. Their seven-year playoff streak was ended on August 27 with a loss to the Chicago Sky. A disappointing season was perhaps expected after the off-season departures of Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird. The team's eleven wins was their lowest total since 2015 and their .275 winning percentage was their lowest since their inaugural season in 2000. Their 29 losses this season was the lowest in franchise history, but it was also the first season of the WNBA's 40 game schedule.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2023 WNBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	School/Team/Country
1	9	Jordan Horston	United States	Tennessee
2	18	Madi Williams	United States	Oklahoma
2	21	Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu	Cameroon	South Florida
3	33	Jade Loville	United States	Arizona

Transactions

Date	Transaction
January 12, 2023	Extended Qualifying Offers to Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor [1]
February 3, 2023	Signed Kia Nurse to a 2-Year Deal [2]
	Signed Sami Whitcomb [3]
February 4, 2023	Signed Ezi Magbegor to a 2-Year Deal [4]
February 6, 2023	Signed Arella Guirantes, Kaila Charles, and Yvonne Turner to Training Camp Contracts [5] [6] [7]
February 8, 2023	Signed Theresa Plaisance to a 1-Year Deal [8]
February 20, 2023	Signed Jade Melbourne to a Rookie Scale Contract [9]
February 22, 2023	Signed Ivana Dojkić [10]
February 24, 2023	Signed Jasmine Walker [11]
April 14, 2023	Signed Jordan Horston, Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and Jade Loville to Rookie Scale Contracts
April 17, 2023	Signed Madi Williams to a Rookie Scale Contract
May 9, 2023	Waived Jade Loville [12]
May 12, 2023	Waived Madi Williams [13]
May 16, 2023	Waived Jasmine Walker [14]
May 18, 2023	Waived Theresa Plaisance [15]
June 9, 2023	Waived Kaila Charles [16]
	Signed Joyner Holmes [17]
June 29, 2023	Waived Arella Guirantes [18]
July 3, 2023	Signed Gabby Williams [19]
August 10, 2023	Waived Ivana Dojkić [20]
September 9, 2023	Signed Jewell Loyd to a Contract Extension [21]
September 25, 2023	Signed Head Coach Noelle Quinn to a Extension [22]
	Assistant Coach Pokey Chatman elevated to Assistant General Manager

Roster Changes

Additions Personnel Signed Former Team Kia Nurse Free Agency Phoenix Mercury Sami Whitcomb Free Agency New York Liberty Jordan Horston Draft Pick 2023 Draft Pick Jade Melbourne Draft Pick 2022 Draft Pick Yvonne Turner Free Agency Phoenix Mercury Joyner Holmes Free Agency Los Angeles Sparks

Subtractions Personnel Reason New Team Sue Bird Retired Briann January Retired Connecticut Sun - Assistant Coach Breanna Stewart Free Agency New York Liberty Epiphanny Prince Free Agency New York Liberty Tina Charles Free Agency - Stephanie Talbot Free Agency Los Angeles Sparks Jantel Lavender Free Agency -

Roster

2023 Seattle Storm roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs C 12 Fankam Mendjiadeu, Dulcy 6' 4" (1.93m) 202 lb (92kg) 07-26-1999 South Florida R F 8 Holmes, Joyner 6' 3" (1.91m) 210 lb (95kg) 02-22-1998 Texas 3 G/F 23 Horston, Jordan 6' 2" (1.88m) 170 lb (77kg) 05-21-2001 Tennessee R G 24 Loyd, Jewell 5' 10" (1.78m) 148 lb (67kg) 1993-10-05 Notre Dame 8 C 13 Magbegor, Ezi 6' 4" (1.93m) 176 lb (80kg) 1999-08-13 Australia 3 G 6 Melbourne, Jade 5' 10" (1.78m) 145 lb (66kg) 08-18-2002 Australia R G 0 Nurse, Kia 6' 0" (1.83m) 168 lb (76kg) 1996-02-22 Connecticut 4 C 21 Russell, Mercedes 6' 6" (1.98m) 195 lb (88kg) 1995-07-27 Tennessee 5 G 22 Turner, Yvonne 5' 10" (1.78m) 131 lb (59kg) 1987-10-13 Nebraska 4 G 32 Whitcomb, Sami 5' 10" (1.78m) 145 lb (66kg) 1988-07-20 Washington 6 F 5 Williams, Gabby 5' 11" (1.8m) 172 lb (78kg) 1996-09-09 Connecticut 4	Head coach Noelle Quinn (UCLA) Assistant coaches Pokey Chatman (LSU) Ebony Hoffman (USC) Perry Huang (Fresno Pacific) Athletic trainer Brittanie Vaughn Legend (C) Team captain (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended Injured

Depth

Pos.	Starter	Bench
PG	Sami Whitcomb	Jade Melbourne Yvonne Turner
SG	Jewell Loyd	Kia Nurse
SF	Jordan Horston	Gabby Williams
PF	Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu	Joyner Holmes
C	Ezi Magbegor	Mercedes Russell

Schedule

Preseason

2023 pre-season game log Total: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–0)
May: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 May 8 Phoenix 71–77 Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (10) Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (9) Jade Melbourne (3) Climate Pledge Arena 5,119 0–1
2023 pre-season schedule

Regular Season

2023 game log Total: 11–29 (Home: 4–16; Road: 7–13)
May: 0–3 (Home: 0–3; Road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 May 20 Las Vegas L 64–105 Jewell Loyd (22) Mercedes Russell (9) Jewell Loyd (4) Climate Pledge Arena 11,229 0–1 2 May 26 Dallas L 91–95 Jewell Loyd (30) Ezi Magbegor (12) Loyd Whitcomb (3) Climate Pledge Arena 8,277 0–2 3 May 30 New York W 86–78 Jewell Loyd (26) Ezi Magbegor (14) Mercedes Russell (4) Climate Pledge Arena 8,340 0–3
June : 4–8 (Home: 2–5; Road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 4 June 3 @ Los Angeles L 85–92 Jewell Loyd (37) Ezi Magbegor (8) Jewell Loyd (6) Crypto.com Arena 6,866 0–4 5 June 6 Los Angeles W 66–63 Jewell Loyd (25) Ezi Magbegor (10) Loyd Magbegor (3) Climate Pledge Arena 7,840 1–4 6 June 9 Washington L 66–73 Ezi Magbegor (24) Jordan Horston (9) Jade Melbourne (5) Climate Pledge Arena 8,397 1–5 7 June 11 Washington L 71–65 Jewell Loyd (16) Ezi Magbegor (7) Jewell Loyd (5) Climate Pledge Arena 13,213 1–6 8 June 13 @ Phoenix W 83–69 Sami Whitcomb (18) Jordan Horston (14) Dojkić Loyd (4) Footprint Center 7,044 2–6 9 June 15 @ Las Vegas L 63–96 Ezi Magbegor (23) Ezi Magbegor (11) Ivana Dojkić (3) Michelob Ultra Arena 8,518 2–7 10 June 17 @ Dallas W 109–103 Jewell Loyd (39) Mercedes Russell (10) Ivana Dojkić (7) College Park Center 5,020 3–7 11 June 20 Connecticut L 79–85 Jewell Loyd (33) Jordan Horston (13) Kia Nurse (5) Climate Pledge Arena 7,022 3–8 12 June 22 Indiana L 68–80 Jewell Loyd (19) Mercedes Russell (8) Ivana Dojkić (6) Climate Pledge Arena 7,734 3–9 13 June 24 Phoenix W 97–74 Jewell Loyd (24) Jewell Loyd (7) Kia Nurse (4) Climate Pledge Arena 9,122 4–9 14 June 27 @ Minnesota L 93–104 Magbegor Whitcomb (20) Jewell Loyd (9) Ivana Dojkić (9) Target Center 7,014 4–10 15 June 29 Minnesota L 97–99 (OT) Jewell Loyd (41) Ezi Magbegor (16) Ivana Dojkić (10) Climate Pledge Arena 6,894 4–11
July : 2–8 (Home: 0–2; Road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 July 2 New York L 66–81 Jewell Loyd (27) Ezi Magbegor (9) Ezi Magbegor (4) Climate Pledge Arena 9,110 4–12 17 July 6 @ Connecticut L 73–93 Jewell Loyd (22) Sami Whitcomb (9) Nurse Whitcomb (4) Mohegan Sun Arena 5,479 4–13 18 July 8 @ New York L 76–80 Sami Whitcomb (19) Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (14) Ezi Magbegor (6) Barclays Center 6,789 4–14 19 July 11 @ Washington L 86–93 Jewell Loyd (39) Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (11) Loyd Melbourne Nurse (3) Entertainment and Sports Arena 3,571 4–15 20 July 12 @ Atlanta L 75–85 Jordan Horston (23) Jordan Horston (10) Jade Melbourne (5) Gateway Center Arena 2,546 4–16 21 July 20 Las Vegas L 63–79 Loyd Magbegor (12) Ezi Magbegor (7) Jewell Loyd (6) Climate Pledge Arena 7,873 4–17 22 July 22 Chicago L 75–90 Ezi Magbegor (14) Holmes Loyd (4) Jewell Loyd (3) Climate Pledge Arena 8,655 4–18 23 July 25 @ New York L 82–86 Jewell Loyd (32) Ezi Magbegor (12) Sami Whitcomb (6) Barclays Center 6,118 4–19 24 July 28 @ Chicago W 83–74 Magbegor Williams (17) Sami Whitcomb (10) Jewell Loyd (6) Wintrust Arena 7,213 5–19 25 July 30 @ Indiana W 85–62 Jewell Loyd (26) Jordan Horston (6) Jewell Loyd (8) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 5,196 6–19
August : 5–6 (Home: 2–3; Road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 August 2 Dallas L 65–76 Jewell Loyd (31) Ezi Magbegor (9) Gabby Williams (5) Climate Pledge Arena 7,421 6–20 27 August 5 @ Phoenix W 97–91 Jewell Loyd (32) Mercedes Russell (8) Gabby Williams (6) Footprint Center 9,411 7–20 28 August 8 Connecticut L 69–81 Loyd Whitcomb (11) Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (12) Sami Whitcomb (5) Climate Pledge Arena 10,212 7–21 29 August 10 Atlanta W 68–67 Jewell Loyd (19) Ezi Magbegor (11) Sami Whitcomb (5) Climate Pledge Arena 7,649 8–21 30 August 13 Phoenix W 81–71 Jewell Loyd (24) Mercedes Russell (10) Sami Whitcomb (8) Climate Pledge Arena 10,107 9–21 31 August 18 Minnesota L 70–78 Sami Whitcomb (23) Ezi Magbegor (7) Sami Whitcomb (3) Climate Pledge Arena 8,865 9–22 32 August 20 @ Minnesota W 88–74 Jewell Loyd (31) Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (15) Loyd Magbegor (4) Target Center 6,525 10–22 33 August 22 @ Chicago L 79–102 Jewell Loyd (26) Jordan Horston (11) Loyd Magbegor (5) Wintrust Arena 4,822 10–23 34 August 24 @ Indiana L 86–90 Jewell Loyd (32) Ezi Magbegor (13) Sami Whitcomb (4) Gainbridge Fieldhouse 2,644 10–24 35 August 27 Chicago L 85–90 Loyd Whitcomb (19) Ezi Magbegor (14) Jewell Loyd (6) Climate Pledge Arena 9,893 10–25 36 August 31 @ Los Angeles W 72–61 Jewell Loyd (25) Horston Magbegor (8) Jewell Loyd (7) Crypto.com Arena 6,101 11–25
September : 0–3 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 37 September 2 @ Las Vegas L 77–103 Jewell Loyd (28) Jewell Loyd (10) Horston Whitcomb (4) Michelob Ultra Arena 9,319 11–26 38 September 6 @ Atlanta L 68–79 Jewell Loyd (26) Ezi Magbegor (8) Ezi Magbegor (4) Gateway Center Arena 2,731 11–27 39 September 8 @ Dallas L 91–106 Jewell Loyd (33) Ezi Magbegor (9) Sami Whitcomb (8) College Park Center 4,546 11–28 40 September 10 Los Angeles L 89–91 Jewell Loyd (28) Ezi Magbegor (8) Ezi Magbegor (7) Climate Pledge Arena 10,728 11–29
2023 season schedule

Standings

#	Team v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Conf.	Home	Road	Cup
1	x – Las Vegas Aces	34	6	.850	–	18–2	19–1	15–5	9–1
2	x – New York Liberty	32	8	.800	2	16–4	15–5	17–3	7–3
3	x – Connecticut Sun	27	13	.675	7	14–6	13–7	14–6	7–3
4	x – Dallas Wings	22	18	.550	12	11–9	11–9	11–9	6–4
5	x – Atlanta Dream	19	21	.475	15	11–9	11–9	8–12	6–4
6	x – Minnesota Lynx	19	21	.475	15	12–8	9–11	10–10	5–5
7	x – Washington Mystics	19	21	.475	15	9–11	12–8	7–13	5–5
8	x – Chicago Sky	18	22	.450	16	5–15	7–13	11–9	3–7
9	e – Los Angeles Sparks	17	23	.425	17	9–11	10–10	7–13	5–5
10	e – Indiana Fever	13	27	.325	21	5–15	6–14	7–13	2–8
11	e – Seattle Storm	11	29	.275	23	8–12	4–16	7–13	4–6
12	e – Phoenix Mercury	9	31	.225	25	2–18	8–12	1–19	1–9

Notes

(#) – League Standing

x – Clinched playoff berth

e – Eliminated from postseason contention

Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game	RPG	Rebounds per game
APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage	TO	Turnovers per game
PF	Fouls per game		Team leader		League leader

Regular Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Jewell Loyd	38	38	35.4	.371	.357	.888	4.7	3.4	1.0	0.4	24.7
Ezi Magbegor	40	40	32.6	.513	.385	.699	8.1	2.6	1.1	1.9	13.8
Sami Whitcomb	40	19	24.5	.400	.385	.830	2.9	2.9	0.9	0.4	9.7
Gabby Williams ≠	10	8	28.5	.362	.217	.846	3.6	3.8	1.5	0.4	8.4
Jordan Horston	36	17	22.4	.367	.244	.712	5.1	1.6	1.2	0.6	6.9
Ivana Dojkić ‡	23	15	20.0	.403	.418	.721	1.7	2.8	0.8	0.2	6.5
Kia Nurse	40	20	19.7	.343	.350	.889	2.3	1.3	0.6	0.1	5.9
Mercedes Russell	37	13	19.1	.516	.000	.605	4.0	1.3	0.4	0.5	5.0
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu	33	21	14.2	.523	.000	.550	4.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	4.1
Joyner Holmes ≠	29	2	10.2	.379	.317	.765	2.3	0.9	0.3	0.3	3.2
Jade Melbourne	29	0	10.6	.391	.150	.793	1.2	1.2	0.4	0.0	2.6
Yvonne Turner	21	7	9.2	.463	.333	.778	1.1	0.9	0.4	0.1	2.5
Kaila Charles ‡	4	0	10.3	.250	.000	.000	1.3	0.3	0.3	0.0	1.5
Arella Guirantes ‡	9	0	5.2	.250	.167	.600	0.7	0.3	0.1	0.4	1.3

^‡Waived/Released during the season
^†Traded during the season
^≠Acquired during the season

Awards and honors

Recipient	Award	Date awarded	Ref.
Jewell Loyd	Western Conference Player of the Week	June 20	[23]
	WNBA All-Star Starter	June 25	[24]
	All-Star Game MVP	July 16	[25]
	Peak Performer: Points	September 11	[26]
	All-WNBA Second Team	October 15	[27]
Ezi Magbegor	WNBA All-Star	July 1	[28]
	All-Defensive Second Team	September 22	[29]
Jordan Horston	WNBA All-Rookie Team	October 2	[30]

References

1. @WinsidrAryeh (January 12, 2023). "The Seattle Storm have extended Qualifying Offers to Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor @Winsidr" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
2. "Storm signs free agent guard Kia Nurse". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
3. "Sami Whitcomb returns to Seattle". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
4. @RichardCohen1 (February 4, 2023). "Source confirms that Ezi Magbegor's new deal with the Seattle Storm is two years, protected, $159,650/$155,000. Big payday for the young post who was reserved so could only negotiate with Seattle. #WNBA #WNBAFreeAgency" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
5. "Storm add guard Arella Guirantes". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
6. "Storm adds guard Kaila Charles". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
7. "Storm signs guard Yvonne Turner". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
8. "Storm signs 6-5 Forward Theresa Plaisance". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
9. "Jade Melbourne signs with Seattle". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
10. "Storm signs Croatian point guard Ivana Dojkić". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
11. "Storm signs forward Jasmine Walker". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
12. @SeattleStormPR (May 9, 2023). "ROSTER UPDATE - The Seattle Storm has waived guard Jade Loville" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. @SeattleStormPR (May 12, 2023). "ROSTER UPDATE - The Seattle Storm has waived forward Madi Williams" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
14. @SeattleStormPR (May 16, 2023). "ROSTER UPDATE - The Seattle Storm has waived forward Jasmine Walker" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
15. @SeattleStormPR (May 18, 2023). "ROSTER UPDATE - The Seattle Storm has waived forward Theresa Plaisance" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
16. "Storm waives Kaila Charles". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
17. "Storm signs free agent forward Joyner Holmes". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
18. @SeattleStormPR (June 29, 2023). "ROSTER UPDATE: The Seattle Storm has waived guard Arella Guirantes. #TakeCover" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
19. "Gabby Williams re-signs with the Storm". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
20. "Storm releases guard Ivana Dojkić". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
21. "Storm signs Jewell Loyd to contract extension". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
22. "Quinn Signs Extension; Chatman Elevated to Associate GM". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
23. @WNBA (June 20, 2023). "🏀 Week 4 Players of the Week 🏀 Eastern Conference: @aa_boston @IndianaFever 22.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.7 BPG 2-1 week record Western Conference: @jewellloyd @seattlestorm 24.3 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG 2-1 week record #MoreThanGame" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
24. M.A. Voepel (June 25, 2023). "Brittney Griner, Aliyah Boston named WNBA All-Star starters". ESPN . Retrieved June 23, 2023.
25. Maloney, Jack. "2023 WNBA All-Star Game MVP: Storm's Jewell Loyd earns honor after setting new scoring record". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
26. Sinatra, Alex (September 11, 2023). "WNBA scoring leader Jewell Loyd among 2023 Peak Performers". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo Sports . Retrieved September 11, 2023.
27. "Kia WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year A'ja Wilson and Record-Setting Alyssa Thomas Headline 2023 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com (Press release). WNBA. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
28. "Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas, Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne Highlight Reserves For 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
29. @WNBA (September 22, 2023). "Your 2023 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team ⬇️ @BetnijahLaney @ezimagbegor @nnekaogwumike @PHEEsespieces @E_Williams_1 #MoreThanGame" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
30. "Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston Named 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year". WNBA. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.

External links

• Official website of the Seattle Storm