10 Sue Bird, Guard
- Age: 40
- Height: 5-9
- Weight: 150 lbs
- College: Connecticut
- Years experience: 18
What the Storm needs
For the past five years, we’ve been waiting and watching to see if Bird has lost a step and surprisingly the WNBA’s oldest player has not slowed down. She’s played just 11 regular-season games during the past two injury-riddled years, but for now let’s chalk those absences to bad luck rather than Bird breaking down. When she’s on the court, the WNBA’s all-time assists leader remains one of the best point guards in the league. Bird isn’t much of a threat to finish at the rim, but she’s become a lethal three-point shooter.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 9.8 | 1.7 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 49.4 | 46.9 | 75.0 |
| Career | 12.1 | 2.6 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 43.0 | 39.1 | 85.1 |
24 Jewell Loyd, Guard
- Age: 27
- Height: 5-10
- Weight: 148 lbs
- College: Notre Dame
- Years experience: 6
What the Storm needs
The return of Bubble Loyd would be a welcome sight for the Storm. Loyd took another step into cementing her place as one of the top players in the WNBA last year in Bradenton, Fla. where the league held the entire 2020 season. Whether it was draining a game-winning three-pointer or scoring a career-high 35 points, Loyd was brilliant on the offensive end. She bulked up in the offseason because this year, she’ll be asked to defend the opposing team’s top perimeter player, which will match her against bigger guards.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15.5 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 44.3 | 39.0 | 87.5 |
| Career | 14.7 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 42.3 | 34.8 | 88.2 |
33 Katie Lou Samuelson, Forward
- Age: 23
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 163 lbs
- College: Connecticut
- Years experience: 2
What the Storm needs
It’s a bit of a mystery what the Storm is receiving in Samuelson, who is playing with her third team in as many years since being selected No. 4 overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft. Ideally, Seattle needs Samuelson, who was acquired in a trade that sent the 2021 No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick to Dallas, to fill the void at small forward created by Alysha Clark’s departure. However, it’s a little unrealistic to expect the Storm newcomer to morph into one of the league’s top lockdown defenders, a 50% three-point shooter and an offensive mismatch in the post. If Samuelson can continue developing and improve on last year’s performance, then she may finally find a spot in the WNBA.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 41.7 | 31.7 | 73.3 |
| Career | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 38.3 | 30.3 | 77.1 |
30 Breanna Stewart, Forward
- Age: 26
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 170 lbs
- College: Connecticut
- Years experience: 4
What the Storm needs
More of the same. Heading into her fifth year, the 2019 WNBA MVP is one of the best players in the league who has led Seattle in scoring and rebounding in each of her four seasons. Hughes wants to give Stewart more responsibilities such as playmaking on the offensive end.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 19.7 | 8.3 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 45.1 | 36.8 | 89.4 |
| Career | 19.9 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 48.2 | 37.5 | 82.5 |
4 Candice Dupree, Center
- Age: 36
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 178 lbs
- College: Temple
- Years experience: 15
What the Storm needs
Dupree slides into the role vacated by Natasha Howard, who was the WNBA Defensive MVP with the Storm in 2019 and a two-time All-Defensive first team selection (2018 and ’19). Dupree, who played the past four years in Indiana, is Seattle’s third highest paid player after signing a one-year, $170,00 deal in the offseason. This is likely a one-year holdover for the seven-time WNBA All-Star and if the Storm can get her to match her career averages while defending opposing centers then it will have been a wise use of financial resources.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 12.5 | 5.7 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 46.2 | 16.7 | 85.4 |
| Career | 14.4 | 6.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 49.7 | 25.0 | 82.1 |
21 Jordin Canada, Guard
- Age: 25
- Height: 5-6
- Weight: 135 lbs
- College: UCLA
- Years experience: 3
What the Storm needs
A leader off the bench who torments opponents with her ballhawking defensive pressure. Canada led the WNBA with 2.3 steals per game in 2019 when she was named a All-Defensive first team. Offensively, Canada is in charge of directing the Storm’s offense when Bird moves off the ball or is out of the game. Canada is one of league’s quickest guards and her ability to get to the rim with ease offsets a horrendous perimeter shot. Last year, she converted just 1 of 11 three-point attempts.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7.9 | 2.3 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 42.4 | 9.1 | 77.2 |
| Career | 7.7 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 38.6 | 17.4 | 76.0 |
13 Ezi Magbegor, Center
- Age: 21
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 176 lbs
- College: Australia
- Years experience: 1
What the Storm needs
More consistency from the 2019 first-round draft pick who had a breakout rookie season last year. Not a lot was expected from Magbegor in 2020, but she quickly found a spot in the rotation as the first post player off the bench. Hughes is hoping Magbegor continues to develop defensively as a rebounder and rim protector. Magbegor is looking to diversify her offensive skillset and wants to incorporate more three-point attempts.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 56.9 | 33.3 | 70.4 |
| Career | 6.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 56.9 | 33.3 | 70.4 |
8 Kennedy Burke, Forward
- Age: 24
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 182 lbs
- College: UCLA
- Years experience: 2
What the Storm needs
Rebounds, rebounds and rebounds. However, Burke hasn’t displayed much rebounding prowess during her two years with the Indiana Fever. Admittedly, it’s a part of her game that needs to improve if she wants to emerge from a crowded race at small forward and break into the rotation. Burke can be a physical defender and has the size to play in the post if needed.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7.2 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 44.9 | 31.3 | 71.4 |
| Career | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 41.8 | 33.0 | 70.9 |
12 Mikiah 'Kiki' Herbert Harrigan, Forward
- Age: 22
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 152 lbs
- College: South Carolina
- Years experience: 1
What the Storm needs
Herbert Harrigan, who is nicknamed ‘Kiki’, is among a handful of newcomers competing for a starting job, a spot in the rotation and minutes at small forward. She showed promise last season as a reserve with the Minnesota Lynx while averaging 11.1 minutes and converting 14 of 33 three-point attempts (42.4%). Herbert Harrigan arrived late and missed two weeks of training camp, which included an exhibition and a scrimmage against the Phoenix Mercury. Considering she had just two days of practice before the season opener, it may take her awhile to get acclimated to a new team.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 36.6 | 42.4 | 71.4 |
| Career | 3.8 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 36.6 | 42.4 | 71.4 |
7 Stephanie Talbot, Forward
- Age: 26
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 192 lbs
- College: Australia
- Years experience: 3
What the Storm needs
A versatile player who can play shooting guard and both forward positions. Talbot, who sat out last year after spending the 2019 season with Minnesota, has been the biggest surprise of the season. She arrived with modest expectations as a training-camp invite and is in the mix to start the season opener. It’s been an improbable journey for Talbot, who was taken with the No. 33 overall pick in the third round of the 2014 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 37.0 | 32.6 | 87.1 | |
| Career | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 40.7 | 35.4 | 77.6 |
23 Kiana Williams, Guard
- Age: 23
- Height: 5-8
- Weight: 135 lbs
- College: Stanford
- Years experience: 0
What the Storm needs
Another playmaker and floor general who can step in during an emergency. It’s quite possible the former Stanford star, who was taken 18th overall in the second round of the this year’s draft, was the last player to make the roster. Her spot isn’t guaranteed considering the Storm exorcised provisions to exceed the maximum number of 12 players and she could become expendable once Prince reports.
2 Mercedes Russell, Center
- Age: 25
- Height: 6-6
- Weight: 195 lbs
- College: Tennessee
- Years experience: 3
What the Storm needs
Statistically speaking, Russell took a step backward last season after a breakout performance in 2019 when she averaged 7.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 25.6 minutes while starting 30 of 34 games when Stewart missed the season due to an injury. Stewart’s return and Magbegor’s arrival attributed to diminished performances from Russell. Still, she’s the biggest player on the team and at times the Storm need her defensively to battle against the WNBA’s elite centers such as Liz Cambage and Sylvia Fowles.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 41.0 | 0.0 | 56.0 |
| Career | 4.7 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 48.6 | 0.0 | 61.5 |
11 Epiphanny Prince, Guard
- Age: 33
- Height: 5-9
- Weight: 179 lbs
- College: Rutgers
- Years experience: 11
What the Storm needs
A dependable and proven playmaker off the bench who knows how to run a team. Prince has played 243 games, which is more than everybody on the team excluding Bird and Dupree. A decade ago, she was an 18-point scorer and two-time WNBA All-Star. These days, the Storm is counting on Prince to provide veteran leadership in limited minutes. She could assume a larger role like she did last season if Bird or Canada are unavailable.
| PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 38.6 | 33.3 | 84.6 |
| Career | 12.6 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 40.6 | 37.1 | 86.4 |