Four takeaways from the first Seattle Storm road trip of 2025
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - It’s just the first two games of the 2025 WNBA season for our Seattle Storm, but there are already a few takeaways to look into for this group that’s aiming to bring home the franchises fifth title. The Storm remain an interesting team on paper, with four stars in their starting lineup with Diggins, Ogwumike, Williams, and Magbegor and a seemingly more talented bench than they had last season, but the product on the court currently shows that there remains work to be done. While they have only played the two games so far and they were both on the road, coming off the WNBA’s already short training camp, there are some things that seem more tangible and real than just some issues that can be a flash in the pan. Here are a few takeaways from the first two games of the Storm’s 2025 WNBA season, ahead of their home opener against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.
Seattle Storm point guard Skylar Diggins during the teams season opening 59-81 road loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, May 17th at PHX Arena. (Photo provided by the Seattle Storm)
Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike continue to be this teams leaders
Some had doubts about the ability possessed by Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike as they entered seasons 11 and 14, respectively, of their WNBA careers. Those concerns were somewhat foolish and misguided, considering the levels of performance that they both exhibited last year during their first season together in a Storm jersey. With an offseason to acclimate herself fully into Seattle for Ogwumike and a remarkable tenure in “Unrivaled” for Diggins, the signs were somewhat clear that both were going to once again be the driving duo behind whatever sort of success Seattle has this season, and that’s already been markedly clear through these first two games. These two will be your night in, night out stars for the Storm and it’s likely going to be up to the rest of this ten active player roster to help determine just how far Seattle goes this season.
Much was made of Skylar Diggins’ start to the 2024 season, and much more grace should’ve been applied when discussing her start to the year given how she was coming off the birth of her second child and was getting used to a brand new team and city for herself and family. Even with those analyzing every game and mistake of hers, Diggins was still putting up strong numbers as Seattle was finding their respective footing. Like some may have after that Phoenix game, there was panic in the first four games for the Storm and Diggins last year before they rattled off a lengthy winning streak. While there’s no guarantee that same thing will happen for this years Seattle team, the point is that Diggins and the Storm were just fine despite a rocky start and that looks like it’ll be the case this year. Skylar was on a torrid pace during the second half of last year, upping her game to what easily could’ve been an all-star level if that stretch was played over the whole season. She’s looked as though that level of play from 2024’s second half has carried into this season, averaging 21 points, 6.5 assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block per game. Something to note is her usage rate, which is currently the highest it’s ever been at 29.6%. As talented and skilled as she is, Diggins shouldn’t need to have that high of a usage rate if the Storm have the sort of trust and belief in their bench that they said they did throughout the course of the offseason and training camp. It could just be that it’s the first two games and Seattle wants to continue getting their systems into place, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on.
The ever efficient and dependable Ogwumike has started the 2025 season with two somewhat different games, but still reliable like Diggins nonetheless. In the season opener in Phoenix, she only scored 12 points but did record three rebounds and swiped two steals, going down as one of only two Seattle players with more than three made field goal attempts. Some early foul trouble hampered Nneka in this one and she took responsibility for that in the post game press conference, and she sure did have a strong bounce back performance in the teams win over the Wings. It’ll be a season of accolades and milestones for Ogwumike, and it certainly was in this game as her 23 point, 18 rebound, three assist, two steal game net her a few different marks. With that monster performance to lead Seattle over Dallas, Nneka moved into a tie for the eighth all-time spot in league history for defensive rebound, hit the 800 career assists mark, and passed Candace Parker for the 10th-most 20-point scoring games in WNBA history as she now has 128. As mentioned, Ogwumike like Diggins will be critical to the success that the Storm will see this season but what their teammates do will decide how far they go. Getting performances like the one in Dallas, though, certainly make you feel like Seattle can go toe-to-toe with just about anybody.
Seattle will need more out of Ezi Magbegor
It’s quite painful to put it that way, considering that Magbegor has been impacting the games still despite a lack of offensive production, but both Magbegor and Quinn have mentioned how more is being asked of her offensively this year and it hasn’t quite happened yet. Let’s get this straight, I am not at all saying that Ezi hasn’t been doing anything. Her rebounding numbers and defensive presence are still very much felt for the Storm, and she even chipped in five assists during the win over the Wings, but hasn’t yet crossed the double digit points mark yet in a game this season and hasn’t crossed double digit points on the year yet (She has nine total, two in the loss to Phoenix and seven in the win over Dallas). As mentioned by our Storm writer Christan Braswell often and now being said by Quinn, “an aggressive Ezi is a dominant Ezi” and unlocking that consistency with her aggressive intent is something that Magbegor is still working on. Ezi did mention last season that she knows the sort of player she can be when she’s a bit more aggressive, both offensively and defensively, and that her teammates were encouraging her to do so but it’s still something she’s personally working with to try and manage. It’ll come, we’ve seen the sort of player Magbegor is and can be as she’s grown every single year she’s been in the league, but it hasn’t happened yet and we’ll acknowledge it. I’m very excited to bring up Magbegor’s remarkable play throughout the course of the season and be part of the Ezi for Defensive Player of the Year campaign that will inevitably start back up soon.
Rebounding is still an issue
On numerous occasions over the last few seasons, Storm head coach Noelle Quinn has cited rebounding as an area that she wants to see her team improve upon. That area of Seattle’s game has seen improvements in stretches last year, to begin the year it’s yet again something that the Storm is struggling to do. They’ve been outrebounded in their first two games of the season, and by two teams that don’t necessarily have the biggest standouts in the front court this year. The Storm have gotten their somewhat usual production from Ogwumike and Magbegor in that department, but have failed to see those numbers perk up from really anybody else that isn’t Li Yueru. Gabby Williams did have five rebounds in the win over the Wings, but she also played all but one minute in that game. Quinn has so often talked about rebounding being a “mentality” as a team, and Seattle simply has not carried that mentality with them on a consistent basis and it has hurt them. When you’re a poor shooting team like this Storm roster is, getting second possessions can be so huge if you take a bad shot. Seattle doesn’t get those and it’s going to be a problem once again this year if they don’t assert themselves a bit more and get that “mentality” going.
Bench management must improve
This may be the topic that fans are the most upset about following the win on the road against the Wings, and I really can’t blame them for having these feelings. There’s not necessarily too much to look at with the distribution of bench minutes in Seattle’s season opening loss to the Mercury outside of how number two overall selection Dominique Malonga played just ten minutes, and a solid chunk of those games in the “garbage time” of this game with the Storm down heavily on the scoreboard. The glaring issues lie within the box score of the victory over the Wings on the road, as Malonga played just one minute while seemingly coveted guards Lexie Brown and Zia Cooke didn’t play at all. There are of course situations where the game doesn’t necessarily present a great time to get your bench in, but given the hefty number of minutes played by Seattle’s starters, it’s baffling to see the lack of any real minutes from those three.
You selected Dominique Malonga second overall. It’s no secret that she’ll have things to improve upon, such as getting stronger as she deals with the physicality of the WNBA, but players won’t learn how to handle situations that are only presented in game speed if they aren’t actively experiencing them and learning from them in games. Often “stay ready” games are brought up for players on the bench of a team, Joyner Holmes brought them up on numerous occasions last year when we spoke with her, but they can’t properly replicate the speed of an actual game and won’t necessarily teach a player the things they’ll need to progress their career. While so often Malonga’s dunking ability is brought up, she’s much more than that and her skillset as a forward is a large reason why she’s garnered so much excitement about her potential. There were certainly minutes in this game where Malonga could have given Alysha Clark a break, especially considering the 37-year-old veteran didn’t have an exceedingly spectacular game offensively. I will continue to understand that it is just game two, but you have to wonder what the progress plan is for Malonga.
With Brown and Cooke, this just brings so much into question. During a press conference with the local media following the main segment of free agency this past offseason, general manager Talisa Rhea and head coach Noelle Quinn expressed their belief in Brown and Cooke as players that could help improve upon their shooting woes from last season. Quinn mentioned Brown’s impressive shooting on numerous occasions throughout training camp and highlighted Cooke’s all-around game as something she enjoyed, which helped her earn a spot on this roster over Serena Sundell, Mackenzie Holmes, and Brianna Fraser. Why did those two not get any minutes in this game against Dallas where your starters were pushed to their limit? Considering that it’s going to be a 44-game season, the longest in WNBA history, and you as a head coach (I’m speaking about Quinn here, not you the reader) have mentioned how crucial your entire ten player roster will be, why aren’t you using two players that you pumped so much belief into? Like I mentioned with Malonga, realizing it is game two, but considering the sort of confidence established in Brown and Cooke, you have to wonder how they didn’t even leave the bench in this game. Seattle did make a trade to acquire Brown, after all, you’d hope that they’d maximize the player they actively wanted to get.
What’s next?
Following their first win of the season coming on the road against the Dallas Wings, our Seattle Storm head back home to the Pacific Northwest for their home opener which is the first of two home games in a row for them. That home opener comes on Friday, May 23rd against the Phoenix Mercury at Climate Pledge Arena with a tipoff time of 7PM PDT that will be broadcast live on ION as well as WNBA League Pass for those who aren’t in the local market. 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!
The Storm will get a few days of rest and practice in ahead of that next contest, and they’ll surely be looking to improve upon some aspects of their game considering that while they did get the win in Dallas, they should’ve put the Wings away earlier than they actually did. The Mercury will come into this game after battling the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, April 21st before flying up the West Coast to take on our Storm Friday night. With this game being Seattle’s home opener, the Storm have a few fun things in store for the fans attending at Climate Pledge Arena. 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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