Previewing the Seattle Storm hosting the Connecticut Sun in preseason action: May 4th, 2025
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - For the first time in 2025, it’s gameday for our Seattle Storm! The Storm will host their first preseason game of the 2025 campaign, as the Connecticut Sun come to town this afternoon for an exhibition battle tipping off at 3PM PDT inside of Climate Pledge Arena. The last time that the Storm and Sun met in the preseason was way back in 2007, when Seattle won by a final score of 63-55, before a season where Lauren Jackson dominated the league as she won the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, WNBA Peak Performer (Points), WNBA Peak Performer (Rebounds), and led the league in win shares. This training camp has been an interesting one since the first day for the Storm, with a good mixture of veterans and rookies that are fighting for their own spot on this Seattle roster and that group gets to showcase themselves against an actual opponent that isn’t their teammates or the practice players this afternoon. Here’s a quick preview for this preseason contest between our Storm and the visiting Sun, a few weeks before we get to do everything for real.
Team availability status’
Connecticut
Marina Mabrey (Calf) - OUT
Aneesah Morrow (Ankle) - OUT
Diamond DeShields (Right ankle) - OUT
Saniya Rivers (Personal) - NWT
Leila Lacan (Overseas) - NWT
Seattle
Ezi Magbegor, OUT – Rest
Dominique Malonga, OUT – Rest
Gabby Williams, OUT – Rest
Katie Lou Samuelson, OUT – R. Knee Injury
Key players to watch for the Storm
Of that aforementioned group of rookies and veterans that are battling for their spots on the opening day roster for Seattle, there are two of each that I want to keep a close eye on in this afternoon’s exhibition battle against Connecticut. The first of those four is rookie guard Serena Sundell, who has widely been considered a steal for the Storm in the third round. Sundell provides great size at 6’2” at the point guard position, can give you some strong scoring ability, and seems perhaps like the most pro ready player of the Seattle rookies besides Malonga, of course. While I say all those things, there is no guarantee that she will make the opening night roster, especially given the veteran guards on the roster currently, so it’s up for her today to try and separate herself a bit. One of those veteran guards that fits into that is Lexie Brown, acquired by Seattle in a trade with Los Angeles around the time of the draft back in the offseason. Brown’s shooting ability is obviously what the Storm are looking at, and she can be a key piece for a team when she’s healthy, which she mentioned she has been for about six months now during media day while also saying she anticipates being good to go for the entirety of the season. Seeing what Lexie can do with the starters when they get minutes tonight will be intriguing.
Mackenzie Holmes was a fascinating pick by Seattle last season, even when she made it known to teams that she was going to need surgery on her knee that would keep her out of the entire 2024 season. Coming back after surgery and recovery as she enters this camp, Holmes’ ability to score the basketball makes her a clear pick to potentially make the roster given the offensive struggles at times for the Storm last offseason, but can she handle the physicality off where she’s been practicing (As a power forward) in camp coming off that injury? She won’t help Seattle’s three point numbers (She shot around 26% from beyond the arc in college), but certainly can help provide an option in the mid-range and plays into the fascination with what the coaching staff will do with the front court, which also includes Li Yueru. Watching film on Yueru is very fun, seeing how she has been able to pass the ball well, shoot the occasional three pointer, and provides the sort of anchor presence with her size and strength in the paint. With Noelle Quinn referring to Dominique Malonga as a forward, does Yueru have the backup center spot to lose in camp?
Key storylines to watch
Will we get any idea of the identity of this team?
In years past under head coach Noelle Quinn, the identity of the Seattle Storm has been their defensive play and how that effort on defense gives them better opportunities on offense. You can go through the different pre and post game press conferences for Quinn and listen to just how important the defensive effort and execution is for her group, but that wasn’t what she did when asked about the identity of her group so far this year and what she wants it to be. Quinn instead opted to say that it was going to be decided by her group as the gel and develop throughout the course of the year which is fair and makes sense, but is certainly different than what she’s done before. It’ll be notable to watch if Quinn’s emphasis on her groups defensive execution is as strong, at least verbally, as it was in recent years.
Which of the rookies will show out?
The lack of increased roster sizes and no developmental league yet in the WNBA makes it a consistent shame when it comes to training camp, as so many talented rookies fresh out of college will be cut before we even get to opening night. For fans of the league, that’s not a shock and rather just a consistent disappointment, so here’s to hoping that one of those things changes sometime soon. When Seattle has the sort of draft that they did this year, with all four picks being players that could certainly help this Storm roster in some way, it is incredibly difficult because you’d love to see these young players be able to grow and develop with this franchise and learn under these veterans, but that won’t happen. Who tonight of the group of Sundell, Conner, and Hobbs will separate themselves from each other? Will Seattle opt to carry two rookies this season, something they’ve hardly done in recent years and they continue to be competitive and opt to do so with a typically veteran heavy roster? It’s a tough thing to do to have to pick between this strong group of rookies, but it’s the reality of this league currently.
Which veteran separates themself?
Similar to the point about rookies above, there is a host of veterans on the Seattle training camp roster that are looking to earn a spot with the Storm in the regular season. That list of veterans gunning for a spot is down one after the news of Katie Lou Samuelson suffering a brutal torn ACL injury that is expected to keep her out of the entire 2025 season, but there’s still about four to five players that are working to ensure their security on this team. Some have tried to lump Lexie Brown into that group, hence why I added the “five,” but her contract is protected so it seems unlikely that Seattle doesn’t have her on their opening night roster also considering they traded for her. The four main veterans to keep track of in this camp are Brianna Fraser, Zia Cooke, Li Yueru, and Erica Wheeler. All four of those players are just on training camp contracts, so nothing is guaranteed for them. Fraser only recently got into camp with the Storm after fulfilling some overseas responsibilities, while the other three have been in camp the whole time with Seattle. Wheeler seems the safest of the four to make the roster as the backup point guard behind Skylar Diggins, but once again: nothing is guaranteed. Keep an eye on those four tonight.
How does Noelle Quinn handle the front court rotation?
The front court is going to be fascinating for the Storm this season not only for the physical ability and talent that they possess, but also for how Seattle distributes the minutes and roles for them. With Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor essentially penciled in as your starting power forward and center, respectively, how will Quinn handle playing time and role for Dominique Malonga (Who isn’t playing this afternoon, as she arrived in Seattle last night), who she called a forward on media day when she’s largely been seen as a center? Will Li Yueru do enough in camp for Seattle to hold on to her, given her strength in the paint plus the strong tool set she possesses to be able to pass well and shoot the three occasionally in her game? What role can Mackenzie Holmes carve out for herself, given her incredible scoring ability while at Indiana but also considering that she is working her way back from a major knee injury?
How to tune in today
Locally, this game will be broadcast on KOMO and the CW with Francis Williams (On play by play, filling in for Dick Fain this year when he’s unavailable) and Elise Woodward (Analyst). For those in the Seattle area, unable to attend that game at Climate Pledge Arena with us, and looking to be surrounded by fans of the Storm when you’re watching this game , you can always head to the official home of Circling Seattle Sports: Rough & Tumble Pub! With more than enough televisions for ALL of the sports, local brews, great food, there isn't a better place to catch a game and R&T is an especially great place to watch any Storm game considering that it’s Seattle's home to women's sports!
What’s next after this?
Following this afternoon’s preseason contest between the Connecticut Sun and our Seattle Storm, the next preseason contest for our Storm comes on May 10th in a closed scrimmage against the Los Angeles Sparks on the road. From there, the team will turn their attention to the final few days of training camp before their 2025 season opener on May 17th on the road against the Phoenix Mercury, as the first two games of the year are on the road for Seattle. The Storm home opener is on May 23rd against those same Phoenix Mercury at Climate Pledge Arena with a tipoff time of 7PM PDT, as throughout the evening, fans will be treated to live music by DJ Blast, new Storm merch and more. The first 5,000 fans who arrive at the arena will receive a Doppler plush clip keychain, courtesy of Providence Swedish. This game will feature the first drop of the team’s new Artist’s Series, a new initiative where local artists design merchandise capsules. Friday’s capsule includes designs from artist Tariqa Waters, who has been featured in the Seattle Art Museum, Frye Art Museum, Hedreen Gallery, and Pivot Art + Culture. Waters’ work can be seen in issues of Rolling Stone France and Madame Figaro magazines.
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