WNBA offseason: Breanna Stewart has motive to stick with Seattle Storm

With the WNBA With the Finals and the World Cup over, it is time to have a look again at what every WNBA group has performed this season and what their low season targets needs to be. Subsequent comes the ninth installment in our collection: the No. 4 seed Seattle Storm, who misplaced within the semifinals.

Storm Stat Rankings (per sport)

• fifth web score (5.2)
• fifth rating (82.5)
• fifth offensive score (104.9)
• third defensive scorer (78.4)
• third defensive score (99.7)
• sixth area purpose proportion (44.2)
• 4th protection in area purpose proportion (43.4)
• third 3-point made (9.3)
• 1st 3-point proportion (36.1)
• 2nd 3-pointers allowed (7)
• 1st 3-point proportion protection (32)
• eleventh free throw makes an attempt (15.1)
• twelfth private fouls drawn (16.1)
• 1st free throw proportion (82.5)
• Opponent 1’s free throw makes an attempt (15)
• 1st private fouls (15.6)
• seventh offensive rebounds (7.8)
• T8e Offensive Rebounds Allowed (8.6)
• eighth defensive rebounds (25.8)
• eleventh defensive rebounds allowed (27.9)
• ninth complete rebounds (33.6)
• eleventh complete rebounds allowed (36.5)
• third turnover (12.8)
• 4th opponent steals (7.2)
• third compelled turnovers (14.4)
• third interceptions (8.3)
• third blocks (4.2)
• Opponent 1 Blocks (2.9)
• 2nd assists (22.6)
• seventh assists given (20.8)

Evaluation of statistical rankings / low season aims

The Storm must work to get to the free throw line and rebound. They had been additionally a reasonably chilly capturing group for a way excessive they completed within the standings. They completed fifth in offense, which is not dangerous, however their protection has actually carried them by means of the season.

Seattle was fairly sturdy on each degree apart from these issues. His protection, led by three All-Defensive Crew winners in Breanna Stewart, Ezi Magbegor and Gabby Williams, was phenomenal.

The Storm completed first in 3-point proportion and second in assists, two issues they may worsen on with out Sue Chook. In fact, all the things may worsen with out Stewart, so let’s speak in regards to the employees.

Picture by Ned Dishman/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Below contract for 2023*

• Jewell Loyd (protected) (SG)
• Mercedes Russell (protected) (C)

Unrestricted Free Brokers*

• Breanna Stewart (PF/SF)
• Epiphany Prince (SG)
• Jantel Lavender (PF)
• Stephanie Talbot (SF)
• Tina Charles (C/PF)

Restricted Free Brokers*

Reserve*

Draft Picks

9; 18; 21; 33

Evaluation of low season gamers/targets

Earlier than I can clarify how the Storm will exchange Chook, I want to debate a fair greater subject, which is how do they maintain Stewart?

Everyone knows the jersey burns that occurred when LeBron James took his skills to South Seashore. It was in fact leaving a hometown and if Stewart joined the New York Liberty, it will be a homecoming. Nonetheless, some can rely towards LeBron’s legacy that he did not play for only one group.

ESPNThe 5 Greatest WNBA Gamers of All Time (Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Maya Moore and Lisa Leslie) have all performed or performed for one group. No. 6 Sheryl Swoopes has performed 10 of 12 seasons with one group and No. 7 and eight Lauren Jackson and Sue Chook have in fact spent their whole careers with the Storm. That being mentioned, the subsequent three (Nos. 9, 10 and 11) had been all celebrated for the modifications they made to new groups. Two, Candace Parker (#9) and Elena Delle Donne (#11), had been homecomings, so it is simple to have a good time them, and each received a championship at residence. Sylvia Fowles (#10) created an outstanding legacy in her second residence (Minnesota) even when it wasn’t a homecoming, and her first group, the Chicago Sky, gave him a chair on his farewell tour.

Stewart is No. 12 on the checklist; The ball is in his courtroom.

Among the many 10 greatest NBA gamers of all time in accordance Athleticism, 5 (Invoice Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Chook, Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant) performed for one group and No. 1 Michael Jordan principally performed for one group. After 13 seasons with the Chicago Bullshe has solely spent two seasons with the Washington Wizards after popping out of his second retirement.

Parker signed together with his hometown Sky as a free agent, whereas Fowles and Delle Donne each needed out, though they ultimately left by way of commerce. Fowles and Delle Donne had been each non-championships after they left Chicago, in order that they lacked the attachment to Sky that Stewart has in Seattle, having received two championships with the Storm. Stewart could also be impressed to stay loyal to Chook even in Chook’s retirement and to honor him by persevering with to play for the group on which they created so many reminiscences.

It would even be laborious to discover a higher Robin than Jewell Loyd. New York has a proficient line of Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Howard and Betnijah Laney, however Stewart is aware of she has chemistry, and championship chemistry as well, with Loyd.

That being mentioned, going again to fundamentals is tempting, and it is laborious to foretell whether or not Stewart will favor to remain true to the town she’s spent her whole skilled profession thus far or the state she’s known as residence in her childhood. Perhaps Syracuse and New York being very totally different locations will make it really feel much less like a homecoming, however we do not know for positive. In fact, Stewart additionally has a choice to make about whether or not she’ll play within the WNBA subsequent season when she may make more cash by committing to enjoying abroad.

With all choices tempting, the Storm should persuade Stewart that he has a very good likelihood of profitable the championship. They should discover a actually good level guard and a backup level guard on condition that Chook and Briann January have retired. The Tina Charles experiment led to catastrophe, however had its good instances. I believe they need to maintain Charles until they discover somebody higher in free company. With or with out Charles, they want extra stars to go together with Stewart and Loyd and good depth as effectively.

Solely Loyd and Mercedes Russell are at present beneath contract for 2023. It is advisable to maintain Ezi Magbegor, however you’ll be able to take into account letting a few of your different free brokers go and pursue free brokers on different groups in the event you’re the storm. I wasn’t an enormous fan of the Storm roster outdoors of Stewart and Loyd final yr, although they proved me improper in some ways.

Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos

* By His hoop stats