Featured Columnist IVAugust 20, 2024
Jean Catuffe/Getty Pictures
The Seattle Storm announced Tuesday they signed veteran ahead Gabby Williams for the rest of the 2024 WNBA season.
Seattle Storm @seattlestorm
⛈️ GUESS WHO’S BACK ⛈️
Welcome dwelling, @gabbywilliams15! 💚💛
Williams, who spent the final two years with Seattle, is coming off a 2024 Summer season Olympics during which she helped France win a silver medal and was named the Finest Defensive Participant of the event.
“We’re thrilled to have Gabby again with the Storm,” Storm head coach Noelle Quinn mentioned. “Gabby is a dynamic participant who brings super versatility. She’s a two-way participant that may guard a number of positions and has a powerful offensive sport; given her familiarity with our system, we all know she will be able to have an instantaneous influence. Gabby’s Olympic efficiency showcased her world-class expertise, and we’re excited to have her be a part of us as we push for the playoffs.”
Her Hoop Stats’ Richard Cohen laid out the wage cap machinations that made Williams’ return to the Storm potential:
Richard Cohen @RichardCohen1
Seattle had $24,195 in cap area left. Yesterday, the pro-rated vet minimal to signal somebody was $24,249; as we speak it is $23,491. Therefore why that is occurring precisely now. By coincidence, additionally commerce deadline day. #WNBA https://t.co/qbpOijoTC5
The 27-year-old is broadly considered an elite defender, a fame she bolstered additional in Paris. She averaged 2.8 steals whereas ending as France’s main scorer (15.5 factors) and playmaker (4.8 assists).
The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant defined why it was nonetheless unclear whether or not Williams would go well with up with a WNBA workforce for the stretch run.
The core participant designation operates equally to the franchise tag within the NFL. A participant is assured the supermax wage for one season, however their present workforce maintains unique negotiating rights.
Service provider questioned whether or not Williams, who sat out your complete 2021 season whereas specializing in the Olympics and almost missed all of 2022 because of the WNBA’s prioritization rule, would favor to protect most flexibility as a free agent in 2025 as an alternative of signing now and danger being cored subsequent winter.
The Storm made the most important splash of any workforce within the offseason once they landed each Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith. The large bets have paid off for probably the most half with Seattle sitting fifth within the league at 17-10.
Reuniting with Williams does not totally bridge the hole on the first-place New York Liberty, however the Storm might be a a lot harder foe within the playoffs now.
