Ezi Magbegor Out to Start Season: Storm Loses Its Best Returning Player to Foot Injury

The Seattle Storm just got some brutal news on the injury front. Ezi Magbegor is going to miss the start of the WNBA season with a right foot injury she picked up while playing for Australia in the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers back in early March. The team announced Monday they'll have updates on her status after six to eight weeks.

This is a massive hit for Seattle. Magbegor was the Storm's top returning scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker coming into the year. We're talking 8.0 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. The 26-year-old two-time Olympian got hurt just three games into the qualifying tournament and missed Australia's final two games of the event.

A Tough Blow in a Rebuilding Year

The timing could not be worse. Seattle already lost its top five scorers from last season in free agency. Losing Magbegor, even temporarily, stings hard. The 6-foot-4 forward is a four-time All-Defensive Team selection who has spent her entire WNBA career with the Storm. She's been a starter since 2022 and had her best season in 2023 when she earned an All-Star bid and averaged 13.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

Magbegor just signed a three-year deal to stay with Seattle after being core-designated in free agency, essentially getting the WNBA equivalent of the NFL franchise tag. But now she'll be watching from the sideline for the next stretch while the team navigates this rebuilding phase.

Making the Best of a Bad Situation

"Injuries are unfortunate, but I'm feeling good," Magbegor said Monday. "It's nice to be back here in Seattle and with the team. That was something that I really wanted to do, and just be back here for the start of training camp and be able to support the team for the next few weeks."

She also acknowledged this is new territory for her. "It's my first time I've been injured for that amount of time," she explained. "And so just kind of finding ways to still be part of the team from the sideline. I'm still working to just get back in those six to eight weeks. So just taking it day by day, working with the medical team here."

The Storm are in the middle of a youth movement with 2025 No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga, 2026 No. 3 pick Awa Fam, and former LSU star Flau'jae Johnson, the 2026 No. 8 selection acquired in a draft-day trade. Now the question is whether these young pieces can step up while waiting for Magbegor to get healthy.

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