Three Questions That'll Define the Storm's Next Chapter in 2026

The Seattle Storm are standing at a fork in the road. Do they run it back with their veteran stars right now, or do they blow it up and build around Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick from last year's draft? It's not just about this season, either. This decision shapes what the Storm look like for the next five years.

Here's the thing: the Storm haven't really made a deep playoff run in recent years. Last season's first-round exit stings. Now, with first-year head coach Sonia Raman in place, the front office has a chance to change direction completely. These three decisions are about to determine everything.

Do They Keep Ogwumike and Diggins, or Rebuild?

Nneka Ogwumike is a former MVP. Skylar Diggins is a four-time All-WNBA First Teamer. These are all-time greats, and they're still playing at a high level. But here's the problem: they're both 35 years old right now, and they'll be 36 by the end of this season.

Look at the results. Since Breanna Stewart left and Sue Bird retired after 2022, the Storm haven't gotten out of the first round. They signed Ogwumike and Diggins back in 2024 as free agents when they were 33. In 2024, they finished fifth and lost in the first round. Last year, they had four All-Stars (Ogwumike, Diggins, Gabby Williams, and Brittney Sykes) but finished seventh and took just one game off the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces before getting eliminated in the first round again.

The real question: is another first-round exit worth keeping these two? Or should the Storm sacrifice some talent now to chase championships when Malonga is in her prime?

What About Malonga's Upside?

This is where it gets interesting. Malonga has been generating serious buzz. She's 6-foot-6, athletic, and can dunk. Her rookie averages of 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds don't jump off the page, but she had limited playing time early. Once she got minutes, she racked up five games with at least 15 points and 7 rebounds, all in August. She even had double-doubles in two of the three playoff games, including the win.

At Unrivaled, she put up 16.4 points per game (16th in the league), 9.4 rebounds per game (5th), and 0.9 blocks per game (11th) while shooting 55.1 percent from the field (6th). That's the kind of stuff that makes fans believe she could be a franchise cornerstone.

Who's Seattle Taking at No. 3 in the Draft?

The Storm have the No. 3 pick in 2026, which is perfect for keeping the rebuild rolling around Malonga. Olivia Miles, the point guard from Notre Dame and TCU, is a generational passing prospect who can also rebound with length. She turned into a high-volume scorer as a college senior in 2025-26. Pairing her with Malonga to run the offense would be a natural fit.

The Storm shot just 28.8 percent from 3-point range (dead last in the W) in 2024. That still stings. Last year they improved to 34.2 percent, but adding a playmaker like Miles could take the pressure off and unlock everyone else.

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