Storm Crushed the Draft and Seattle Insiders Are Going Crazy Over It

The Seattle Storm just dropped one of the best draft hauls anyone has seen in a while, and the national basketball world is here for it. The team rolled into the WNBA draft and walked away with Awa Fam, Flau'jae Johnson, Taina Mair, and Grace VanSlooten. The grades? Mostly A's and B's across the board. This is not a drill.

Fam at No. 3 Is the Crown Jewel

Let's start with the obvious: the Storm nabbed Awa Fam, the 19-year-old Spanish center, with the third overall pick. Pretty much every evaluator agrees this is a steal. David Suggs from Sporting News called it straightforward: Fam has the highest ceiling in the entire draft class. She's got athleticism, footwork, and passing skills that are rare at her age and size. Hunter Cruse at Bleacher Report doubled down, saying Seattle can now build around the youngest frontcourt in WNBA history, and that's "terrifying for the rest of the league." Michael Voepel from ESPN pointed out that yeah, the Storm already have 6-foot-4 Ezi Magbegor and 6-6 Dominique Malonga, but why not load up on young talent at that position? You can never have too many.

The Johnson Trade Was a No-Brainer

Here's where it gets spicy. The Storm originally picked Marta Suarez at No. 16 in the second round. Then they flipped her and a 2028 second-round pick to the Golden State Valkyries and snagged Flau'jae Johnson, the LSU combo guard, at No. 8 overall. Cruse called it a "clear win." Elaine Blum from SI.com agreed, saying it's a steal. Johnson brings defensive impact, shooting ability, and transition skills that make her worth the bet even without a big senior-year jump. Voepel also noted she's got serious upside as a perimeter scorer and defender.

Mixed Feelings on the Rest

The Mair pick at No. 14 surprised people. The Duke point guard brings solid defense and playmaking, but Cruse felt like the Storm might have overindexed on her ACC tournament and March Madness tape instead of her full body of work. Still, the consensus is she fills a position need. Grace VanSlooten at No. 39 in the third round is a fluid 6-foot-3 athlete with some passing ability, though Cruse noted her production hasn't always matched her tools. Voepel acknowledged she's reliable in the post but doesn't shoot threes, which is limiting. For that late in the draft though, not a bad grab.

Bottom line: The Storm are in rebuild mode and just gave themselves some serious young talent to build around. That's the kind of draft day you dream about on the Sound.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.