The Storm Need to Go Young

As WNBA free agency begins, there is only one clear path for the Seattle Storm.

In Dante’s Purgatorio, those who visit purgatory not only suffer to pay their moral debt, but they also suffer in order to become good. Sometimes sports franchises have to visit purgatory as well to realize that it is suffering to be mediocre. From that life of inbetween, from mediocrity, comes clarity. Comes vision. Comes, dare we say, hope.

The Seattle Storm have existed - maybe even thrived - in WNBA purgatory for the last two seasons. Led by two 35 year old elite players, Seattle’s ceiling was a first round playoff loss. Meanwhile they have a budding star with last year’s #2 pick and the current #3 pick in the WNBA draft. Aging superstars and young talent don’t often mix well. The Storm are no different.

In order to leave purgatory, Seattle must cleanse themselves of a former self. For years, the franchise stayed relevant with Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, followed by Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike. Those are all players on the back end of their career and/or long retired. That relevance, that “star” power, may sell tickets, but it doesn’t win championships. Any version with Skylar and Nneka is no match for the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. They just aren’t good enough to compete with those two teams. So it is time to cleanse and move forward with youth.

The Storm should build everything around Dominique Malonga. The 6”6’ French national 20 year old has all the tools to be a franchise player. She needs the opportunity to be the focal point of everything this team does for the next couple years. Let her fail. Let her shine. Let her do it all.

Seattle Times

But pair her with a guard who can create. The Storm has to be praying that Olivia Miles out of TCU falls to them at #3 overall next Monday. Miles is as good of a passing guard to come out of college in years. Her vision and creativity is unparalleled. Are there some concerns with Miles? Sure. She tends to hide at times and isn’t a committed defender, but that vision is a skill that cannot be taught or found somewhere else.

With Miles, Jordan Horston and Malonga, the Storm have a core that could grow into a championship contender years down the road. That may also include Ezi Magbegor. On Tuesday, Seattle placed the “core” designation on Ezi. Whether they keep her or trade her will be interesting in the coming days. It feels redundant to have Magbegor and Malonga on the court together, but at the same time, their size could make things difficult on the rest of the league. If Magbegor could shoot closer to 40% rather than 30% from three point range, this two -headed big show could work. The best move is to see what the Storm can get in return for Ezi via trade. Regardless of keeping Magbegor or trading her, this team could really accelarate their timeline with two other moves.

Re-sign Gabby Williams. She is a star and does everything you want in a winning player. An elite defender, a shot maker, great size, and a secondary ball handler. Give her as much as you need to give her.

Go get Young. Jackie Young.

Pay Jackie Young the max deal and give her as many shots as she wants. Young is 28 years old and in the prime of her career. A starting lineup of Miles, Young, Williams, Malonga and Horston would be pretty good. In just a couple years, it could be elite. It could even lift the Storm out of sports purgatory.