The Seattle Storm added two WNBA All-Stars to put the franchise back in a position to compete for another WNBA Championship and return its status as one of the league’s elite franchises. For Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith playing with the Storm allows them to build on the franchise and their legacies.
Seattle Storm General Manager Talisa Rhea and head coach Noelle Quinn introduced the team’s newest off-season additions. Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike.
After averaging 19.7 points a game which was third in the league, 5.5 assists ( seventh) and 4.0 rebounds a game in 2022 Diggins-Smith had her second child and sat out the 2023 season. A difference of philosophy and one could say opinion saw the sixth-time All-Star and four-time All-WNBA first-teamer make it clear she would not return to the Phoenix Mercury.
For Talisa Rhea, the opportunity to add another future Hall of Fame to play with Jewell Loyd was an opportunity she could not pass up.
“Nneka is one of the most impactful players in the history of our league, not only her achievements on the court but also as an agent of positive change across the WNBA,” said Rhea. “I know Seattle and our community share our enthusiasm that Nneka is coming to the Storm.”
The eight-time WNBA All-Star six, time All- WNBA pick, and 2016 WNBA MVP posted some of her best numbers during 2023. Ogwumike averaged 19.1 ppg ( sixth) 8.8 rebounds per game and 1.7 steals a game and earned her sixth selection to both the All-WNBA team and All-WNBA Defensive team
A TOP-NOTCH ORGANIZATION WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Both made it clear that the Storm is Loyd’s team and relished the opportunity to play with her and continue to build on the Storm’s winning legacy.
“I’ve been a part of building a house,” said Ogwumike, previously an eight-time All-Star forward and 2016 WNBA MVP for the Los Angeles Sparks. “I’ve been in a house that the Lisa [Leslies], the DeLisha [Milton-Joneses] and so many others built and the one I had been living in. So coming here was really important because there’s so much legacy. That legacy doesn’t come lightly, at all. It comes with a standard and an expectation.”
For Diggins-Smith the return to the WNBA was a journey she gave deep thought to.
“You guys are the first people I’m talking to in 18 months,” said Diggins-Smith, “I took the time off to be with my family sometimes you have to remember your why. Why are you playing? I dug down deep into that and my comfort zone is my family and I needed that time to recalibrate everything. “I had a great year last year taking a break from everything, and it made me eager to return.”
SUPER TEAM?
Adding the two WNBA stars puts the Storm in super team status. The two were asked the question if they are now on par with the Las Vegas Aces the league’s example of a Super Star.
Given their competitive nature, the two stars were quick to point out that they were not focused on any other team but themselves.
“ I don’t know about Vegas, but I am sure they are good, but it’s not about them said Diggins-Smith. “ It’s about us, not anyone else, “ added Ogwumike
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