Ezi Magbegor Gets the Supermax Offer, and the Storm's Offseason Just Got Complicated

The Seattle Storm just made their first big move of the offseason, and it tells you everything about where the franchise stands right now. They sent a core qualifying offer to Ezi Magbegor, locking in exclusive negotiation rights with their seventh-year veteran center. But here's the thing: this move is a lot more nuanced than it looks on the surface.

A One-Year Supermax That Might Lead Somewhere Else

The qualifying offer gives Magbegor a one-year supermax contract worth $1.4 million, which comes with a massive raise from the $186,000 she made last season. That sounds like a no-brainer for the player, but it's actually the Storm being strategic about their cap situation. That $1.4M supermax eats up 20% of Seattle's entire $7 million salary cap under the new collective bargaining agreement. The Storm and Magbegor can negotiate a multiyear deal if both sides want it, which might actually make more sense for the franchise long-term. But here's the real question: will Magbegor stick around, or does the Storm use this offer as a platform to sign and trade her instead?

The Magbegor-Malonga Dilemma Nobody Has Answered Yet

There's still that lingering elephant in the room. The 26-year-old Magbegor, who the Storm drafted in the first round in 2019, is an absolute beast on defense. She led the entire league with 96 blocks last year and earned all-defensive second team honors. In 2025, she averaged 9.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. But the Storm also have 19-year-old center Dominique Malonga waiting in the wings, and she's got a similar skill set. The front office views Malonga as the future of the franchise. So do you pay Magbegor and figure out how to make both centers work together, or do you move on and let Malonga grow into the role?

The Rest of the Roster Moves

Magbegor isn't the only Storm player getting a qualifying offer. The team also extended offers to reserved free agents Zia Cooke and MacKenzie Holmes, giving the Storm exclusive negotiation rights with both players. Wednesday marked the first day the 15 WNBA teams could negotiate with over 100 unrestricted free agents, and deals can be signed as soon as Saturday. Things are moving fast in the offseason.

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