The Storm Did What the Kraken Wouldn't: They Actually Rebuilt

While the Kraken keep clinging to an aging core that will never win a Stanley Cup, missing the playoffs for three straight seasons, the Seattle Storm just did something bold. They embraced a full rebuild that could actually turn them into WNBA contenders for years to come. And honestly? That's the move.

On Monday, the Storm made their statement. They drafted 19-year-old Spanish center Awa Fam with the third overall pick, then turned heads by trading for LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson, who Golden State had just selected eighth overall. They also grabbed Duke point guard Taina Mair at No. 14. That's not a plan to squeak into the playoffs and lose in the first round again. That's a blueprint for something real.

Out With the Old Core, In With the Future

Yeah, this is going to hurt in the short term. The Storm are walking into training camp without their top five scorers from last season. Coach Sonia Raman inherits a radically younger roster that needs time to gel. But look at what Seattle was actually getting: a 23-21 team that nearly missed the postseason entirely, ranked eighth in scoring, and finished just 10-12 at Climate Pledge Arena. They got bounced by Las Vegas in the opening round back-to-back years and went only 12-14 against fellow playoff teams in 2025.

The previous core was talented, no question. But the math didn't work anymore. Nneka Ogwumike was 35, Skylar Diggins was 35, Erica Wheeler was 34, and Brittney Sykes was 32. That window was slamming shut. Seattle wasn't beating Las Vegas, New York, Minnesota, or Indiana with that lineup, no matter how hard they tried.

Building Around Youth and Potential

Enter the foundation. Flau'jae Johnson, 20-year-old center Dominique Malonga, 26-year-old Ezi Magbegor, and 24-year-old Jordan Horston suddenly become the cornerstones. Fam brings elite athleticism at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. This is the kind of young talent that actually wins titles down the road, not settles for fringe playoff appearances.

"We aligned on the foundation we wanted to set and the culture our coaches want to instill," GM Talisa Rhea said after completing one of the WNBA's best drafts. "We felt like we were in a great position to reset the foundation."

It'll get worse before it gets better. That's the deal. But for a franchise that's supposed to chase championships, not just playoff slots, this was the only move that made sense.

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