Sunday marks the start of training camp for the Storm, who begin a 25th season in the WNBA at their new $64 million headquarters.
Considering there are just nine practices and two exhibitions before the Storm’s regular-season opener May 14, fourth-year coach Noelle Quinn doesn’t have a lot of time to coalesce a team that’s bringing in eight newcomers, highlighted by stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
“The biggest challenge is the chemistry aspect,” Quinn said. “They’re amazing players, but the earlier they can get on the court together, then that’s better for us.
“The earlier they can establish cadence, rhythm and see where people want the ball, very basic things, then it helps. Skylar and Nneka, as great as they are, they have to learn our system. And the earlier they can get the flow and chemistry, then that helps putting in the system.”
In many ways, Quinn’s top priority during training camp is incorporating Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith, who have tallied a combined 608 games, 23 years and 12 WNBA All-Star appearances, into a lineup that includes star guard Jewell Loyd and forward Ezi Magbegor, who had a breakout season last year.
“I want to move from thinking the group has to sacrifice something for this to happen,” said Quinn, who quoted advice she received from Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “Instead, I want us to invest in what’s going to happen and the investment is being exactly who you are.
“For Jewell to continue to be a high playmaker and get her shots because she has a great [passer] in Skylar. For Skylar to get downhill in the paint because she’s playing with a prolific post player in Nneka. For Ezi to continue being the anchor of our defense because each player has a specific role.”
It’s no easy task integrating established stars such as Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith into new offensive and defensive schemes, but it’s imperative the Storm establish a cohesive identity as soon as possible if they’re going to contend with two-time defending champion Las Vegas and New York for a WNBA title.
“That’s the biggest thing for me on Day 1,” Quinn said. “When our team is finally set, I want to tell everybody what their role is and to live in that role and to feel comfortable with that.
“It’s not going to always be great and perfect, but we’re going to have a group that works hard, plays hard and complements each other. … We have a good group of individuals who are open to that and putting the team first.”
Aside from the Core Four (Loyd, Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith and Magbegor) developments, here are three questions the Storm must answer during training camp.
What’s next for Jordan Horston?
The problem with so-called super teams — and yes, the Storm, at least for now, look like a super team on par with the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty — is the stars tend to outshine role players who draw unwarranted criticism for their lack of production.
Veteran sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb, who won two WNBA championships alongside the Storm’s previous Big Three (Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Loyd), has the experience and expertise to make meaningful contributions in limited minutes.
It remains to be seen how second-year forward Jordan Horston adjusts to what appears to be a starting assignment alongside four All-Stars. Last year, the Storm provided steady encouragement as she made rookie mistakes on a team that finished next to last at 11-29.
Horston, who had offseason shoulder surgery, will be invaluable if she develops into an elite wing defender and maintains her 5.1 rebounding average.
Last year, she averaged 6.9 points per game and it’s understandable if her scoring declines because she’s unlikely to average 7.6 shots again.
Horston could prove to be an offensive liability if she fails to improve her 24.4% three-point shooting and doesn’t cut down on her turnovers (she averaged 2.0 per game).
Backup point guard: Jade Melbourne or Nika Muhl?
Aside from an ACL injury that wiped out most of her 2015 season, Diggins-Smith has been virtually indestructible during her 10-year career while averaging 32.1 minutes.
Still, the 33-year-old point guard hasn’t played since 2022 and it’s essential the Storm find a reliable backup to provide relief for Diggins-Smith the way Jordin Canada supported Bird on the Storm’s recent championship teams.
Conceivably, second-year veteran Jade Melbourne will get the first crack at winning the backup PG job if she can show improvement from a wobbly rookie year in which she averaged 1.2 assists, converted 3 of 20 three-pointers and had difficulty defensively.
Rookie Nika Muhl, who was taken 14th overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, averaged 5.2 assists, shot 36.2% on threes and won two Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards during her four-year career at the University of Connecticut.
Recently, the Storm have had three point guards on the roster and it’s possible they’ll keep Melbourne and Muhl, who’ll also get a look at shooting guard.
They also have the option of relying on Whitcomb to run the offense like she did during the second half of the season last year.
Who stays and who goes?
WNBA teams are allowed 12 players on the roster, but because of financial constraints, the Storm are projected to keep 11 of the 16 players in training camp.
Unofficially, Horston is among the seven players considered locks to make the team. The others include: Loyd, Ogwumike, Diggins-Smith, Magbegor, Sami Whitcomb and Mercedes Russell, who each have guaranteed contracts.
The Storm have four centers in camp and moving Magbegor to the post makes second-year veteran Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu somewhat expendable. But last year’s second-round pick showed promise while starting 21 games as a rookie, which puts her in the near-lock category.
That leaves five players (guard/forward Victoria Vivians, forwards Joyner Holmes and Kaela Davis, and Melbourne and Muhl) on the bubble and conceivably battling for three roster spots.
Third-year guard Kiana Williams, who taken in the second round of the 2021 WNBA draft by the Storm and played 13 games in Seattle, free-agent center Alaina Coates and rookie forward Quay Miller will be hard-pressed to land with the team.
Key dates
Sunday: Training camp begins
May 4: Preseason opener versus Los Angeles Sparks*
May 7: Preseason home opener vs. Phoenix Mercury
May 13: Final Roster Cut-down Date
May 14: Regular season opener vs. Minnesota Lynx
*WNBA Canada Game in Edmonton, Alberta
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