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.
See also: 2023 WNBA draft.
Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | Jordan Horston | Tennessee | |
2 | 18 | Madi Williams | Oklahoma | |
2 | 21 | Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu | South Florida | |
3 | 33 | Jade Loville | Arizona | |
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 |
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 |
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 | - |
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 |
|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| May 8| Phoenix| 71–77| Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (10)| Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (9)| Jade Melbourne (3)| Climate Pledge Arena
5,119| 0–1
|- style="background:#fcc"| 1| May 20| Las Vegas| L 64–105| Jewell Loyd (22)| Mercedes Russell (9)| Jewell Loyd (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
11,229| 0–1|- style="background:#fcc"| 2| May 26| Dallas| L 91–95| Jewell Loyd (30)| Ezi Magbegor (12)| Loyd
Whitcomb (3)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,277| 0–2|- style="background:#fcc"| 3| May 30| New York| W 86–78| Jewell Loyd (26)| Ezi Magbegor (14)| Mercedes Russell (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,340| 0–3|- style="background:#fcc"| 4| June 3| @ Los Angeles| L 85–92| Jewell Loyd (37)| Ezi Magbegor (8)| Jewell Loyd (6)| Crypto.com Arena
6,866| 0–4|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 5| June 6| Los Angeles| W 66–63| Jewell Loyd (25)| Ezi Magbegor (10)| Loyd
Magbegor (3)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,840| 1–4|- style="background:#fcc"| 6| June 9| Washington| L 66–73| Ezi Magbegor (24)| Jordan Horston (9)| Jade Melbourne (5)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,397| 1–5|- style="background:#fcc"| 7| June 11| Washington| L 71–65| Jewell Loyd (16)| Ezi Magbegor (7)| Jewell Loyd (5)| Climate Pledge Arena
13,213| 1–6|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 8| June 13| @ Phoenix| W 83–69| Sami Whitcomb (18)| Jordan Horston (14)| Dojkić
Loyd (4)| Footprint Center
7,044| 2–6|- style="background:#fcc"| 9| June 15| @ Las Vegas| L 63–96| Ezi Magbegor (23)| Ezi Magbegor (11)| Ivana Dojkić (3)| Michelob Ultra Arena
8,518| 2–7|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 10| June 17| @ Dallas| W 109–103| Jewell Loyd (39)| Mercedes Russell (10)| Ivana Dojkić (7)| College Park Center
5,020| 3–7|- style="background:#fcc"| 11| June 20| Connecticut| L 79–85| Jewell Loyd (33)| Jordan Horston (13)| Kia Nurse (5)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,022| 3–8|- style="background:#fcc"| 12| June 22| Indiana| L 68–80| Jewell Loyd (19)| Mercedes Russell (8)| Ivana Dojkić (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,734| 3–9|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 13| June 24| Phoenix| W 97–74| Jewell Loyd (24)| Jewell Loyd (7)| Kia Nurse (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,122| 4–9|- style="background:#fcc"| 14| June 27| @ Minnesota| L 93–104| Magbegor
Whitcomb (20)| Jewell Loyd (9)| Ivana Dojkić (9)| Target Center
7,014| 4–10|- style="background:#fcc"| 15| June 29| Minnesota| L 97–99 (OT)| Jewell Loyd (41)| Ezi Magbegor (16)| Ivana Dojkić (10)| Climate Pledge Arena
6,894| 4–11|- style="background:#fcc"| 16| July 2| New York| L 66–81| Jewell Loyd (27)| Ezi Magbegor (9)| Ezi Magbegor (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,110| 4–12|- style="background:#fcc"| 17| July 6| @ Connecticut| L 73–93| Jewell Loyd (22)| Sami Whitcomb (9)| Nurse
Whitcomb (4)| Mohegan Sun Arena
5,479| 4–13|- style="background:#fcc"| 18| July 8| @ New York| L 76–80| Sami Whitcomb (19)| Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (14)| Ezi Magbegor (6)| Barclays Center
6,789| 4–14|- style="background:#fcc"| 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|- style="background:#fcc"| 20| July 12| @ Atlanta| L 75–85| Jordan Horston (23)| Jordan Horston (10)| Jade Melbourne (5)| Gateway Center Arena
2,546| 4–16|- style="background:#fcc"| 21| July 20| Las Vegas| L 63–79| Loyd
Magbegor (12)| Ezi Magbegor (7)| Jewell Loyd (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,873| 4–17|- style="background:#fcc"| 22| July 22| Chicago| L 75–90| Ezi Magbegor (14)| Holmes
Loyd (4)| Jewell Loyd (3)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,655| 4–18|- style="background:#fcc"| 23| July 25| @ New York| L 82–86| Jewell Loyd (32)| Ezi Magbegor (12)| Sami Whitcomb (6)| Barclays Center
6,118| 4–19|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 24| July 28| @ Chicago| W 83–74| Magbegor
Williams (17)| Sami Whitcomb (10)| Jewell Loyd (6)| Wintrust Arena
7,213| 5–19|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 25| July 30| @ Indiana| W 85–62| Jewell Loyd (26)| Jordan Horston (6)| Jewell Loyd (8)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
5,196| 6–19|- style="background:#fcc"| 26| August 2| Dallas| L 65–76| Jewell Loyd (31)| Ezi Magbegor (9)| Gabby Williams (5)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,421| 6–20|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 27| August 5| @ Phoenix| W 97–91| Jewell Loyd (32)| Mercedes Russell (8)| Gabby Williams (6)| Footprint Center
9,411| 7–20|- style="background:#fcc"| 28| August 8| Connecticut| L 69–81| Loyd
Whitcomb (11)| Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (12)| Sami Whitcomb (5)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,212| 7–21|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 29| August 10| Atlanta| W 68–67| Jewell Loyd (19)| Ezi Magbegor (11)| Sami Whitcomb (5)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,649| 8–21|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 30| August 13| Phoenix| W 81–71| Jewell Loyd (24)| Mercedes Russell (10)| Sami Whitcomb (8)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,107| 9–21|- style="background:#fcc"| 31| August 18| Minnesota| L 70–78| Sami Whitcomb (23)| Ezi Magbegor (7)| Sami Whitcomb (3)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,865| 9–22|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 32| August 20| @ Minnesota| W 88–74| Jewell Loyd (31)| Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (15)| Loyd
Magbegor (4)| Target Center
6,525| 10–22|- style="background:#fcc"| 33| August 22| @ Chicago| L 79–102| Jewell Loyd (26)| Jordan Horston (11)| Loyd
Magbegor (5)| Wintrust Arena
4,822| 10–23|- style="background:#fcc"| 34| August 24| @ Indiana| L 86–90| Jewell Loyd (32)| Ezi Magbegor (13)| Sami Whitcomb (4)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
2,644| 10–24|- style="background:#fcc"| 35| August 27| Chicago| L 85–90| Loyd
Whitcomb (19)| Ezi Magbegor (14)| Jewell Loyd (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,893| 10–25|- style="background:#bbffbb"| 36| August 31| @ Los Angeles| W 72–61| Jewell Loyd (25)| Horston
Magbegor (8)| Jewell Loyd (7)| Crypto.com Arena
6,101| 11–25|- style="background:#fcc"| 37| September 2| @ Las Vegas| L 77–103| Jewell Loyd (28)| Jewell Loyd (10)| Horston
Whitcomb (4)| Michelob Ultra Arena
9,319| 11–26|- style="background:#fcc"| 38| September 6| @ Atlanta| L 68–79 | Jewell Loyd (26)| Ezi Magbegor (8)| Ezi Magbegor (4)| Gateway Center Arena
2,731| 11–27|- style="background:#fcc"| 39| September 8| @ Dallas| L 91–106| Jewell Loyd (33)| Ezi Magbegor (9)| Sami Whitcomb (8)| College Park Center
4,546| 11–28|- style="background:#fcc"| 40| September 10| Los Angeles| L 89–91| Jewell Loyd (28)| Ezi Magbegor (8)| Ezi Magbegor (7)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,728| 11–29|-
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 |
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] |