It's so sad what happened to Russell in 2022. The news about her illness emerged cryptically out of training camp, and we still have very little information about it. Hope to see her back next season and beyond.
From what info I've seen it sounds like a very difficult form of migraines (or something like that). They fact that she couldn't play more than the first 5 games this season is very concerning.
A TL;DR is at the bottom. It's a little more organized than... ⤵️
So everything is sort of a clusterfuck right now. Bird and January are gone, so we have a huge hole at PG – that might be the only for sure thing.
Stewart may play in the League, she may not. If she does, she may re-sign with the Storm, she may not. So obviously that throws things into uncertainty right off the bat.
Williams I don’t expect to be in the League next year. She’s playing both for France and in France. Lengthy overseas season. She has basically said as much that she may be done in the W unless/until the Prioritization Clause gets thrown out of the CBA.
Otherwise, the other true non-retiring(?) free agents are Charles, Talbot, Prince, and Lavender. I’d be surprised to see either Prince or Lavender anywhere in the League next year. Sounds like Lavender may be opting to retire from specifically the W like January. Talbot I’d like to have back in general, whether we’re rebuilding or not. She’s a steady vet at this point who can start or come off the bench interchangeably, which is an underrated aspect to her. Honestly, I think she may get some decent offers next year in a better market. We’ll see what she chooses to do. Charles may come back if Stewart comes back, aka if we’re still an obvious contender, but I have no expectations for her. Like I said, I also think she signs with Vegas for cheap anyway. That’s what I’d do if I were as desperate for a ring as her – even if I had to beg & plead. She’s not retiring for at least a few more years, methinks.
Magbegor is unsigned, but Reserved. Slam-dunk returner, right? Think again. She’s playing in Europe for the first time next year – in Hungary. She's now played for three years, so prioritization could rear its ugly head on us again. I think she’ll find her way back though, ultimately. She'll be playing on the same Hungarian team (Sopron) as Courtney Vandersloot, coincidentally! (Along with UFA Brittney Sykes, fwiw)
And then you have the two returners, Loyd and Russell. But even they aren’t sure things. Russell should be healthy enough to return, but if she’s still having recurring headaches by then, she might be forced to retire in a worst-case scenario, or at least take even more time off. I feel terrible for her and for the team, as her unexpected prolonged absence held the team’s potential back imo. She's surely more frustrated than anyone by her inability to play. Everything may have changed this past year if she were healthy. She had evolved into that type of role player whose presence simply affects the game. Magbegor held down the fort pretty well for a while, though Russell simply would’ve made a positive difference regardless, period. Charles may not have left Phoenix midseason to sign with us – who knows... Loyd meanwhile may ask for a trade (back home to Chicago?) if Stewart leaves, as she’s likely not gonna want to be on a rebuilding team at this point in her career. If we trade her, we'll surely be initiating a hard reset.
So IF Stewart returns, that’s when you re-sign all these returners and go after a Vandersloot or another well-established player for that PG position. And you try it all again.
If Stewart sits out the season entirely while leaving the door open to return, you ask Loyd what she wants to do. Loyd is only signed through 2023. If Loyd wants to stay, and isn’t impacted by Prioritization, you keep her and have her help out with creating a roster around her. I wouldn’t trade her unless she wants to be traded. (Now, if Loyd also sits out 2023, then you’re basically forced into the hardest of rebuilds – I don't know how valuable her rights would be since she’s only signed through 2023, though maybe they'd be worth some sort of lowball package?) People might have half a mind to trade Loyd anyway, if Stewart sits out 2023. I can see why. If Stewart signs elsewhere straight-up, that’s when you trade Loyd. But if Loyd sticks around and Stewart merely sits out, the door to me remains open for Stewart to return. I don’t get the sense they’re sick of playing around each other.
But then it’s tricky if Loyd stays and Stewart’s situation is in limbo. I don’t know how you get the Herculean talent to replace Stewart. Yes, the free agent list is vast, but ya just don’t know how much of that talent will be forced (or just opt) to sit out next season. Even if they can play, you still gotta attract them. I suppose Charles may try to come back next year anyway even without Stewart – perhaps if Magbegor and Russell sign back up. That’s still a pretty talented frontline, especially if Magbegor elevates her game even more. Of course, that assumes both Magbegor and Russell come back ready to play, neither of which is a given!
It gets trickier if Stewart sits out beyond 2023, as Loyd will be a free agent by then unless we sign her to an extension. Maybe Loyd gets tired of waiting and simply signs elsewhere – if she herself isn't sitting out by then. 2024 is where Prioritization becomes much more strict. I don't think anyone has any idea which high-end vets will still be in the League by then.
All that said, a hard reset may be not only on the horizon, but the best thing to do. If the team had to let Stewart go and traded Loyd as a result, I’d be able to accept that. I hope the fans would as well. It wouldn't be like the Hard Reset of 2015 where we were already bad, didn't have to trade anyone earth-shattering away (no offense, Camille Little and Shekinna Stricklen!), and had the #1 Pick (Loyd) to top it all off. Anyway, if you do a hard reset, you then sign a couple vets for each position group – one guard, one forward, one post – and go with young players for the remaining 9 or so spots – not necessarily rookies, just young talent who you think has upside/unrealized potential. We’ve had a host of talent the past couple seasons who probably deserve another look – 2021’s training camp was apparently one of Dan Hughes’ best before he of course retired early on. Bring a kid or two from there back (Gorecki?), another from 2022's camp back (Cunane?), maybe an overseas vet for mentoring, etc. Still focus your efforts on the 2023 Draft, where you'd at least have one 1RP and two 2RPs to work with and not just toss away this time.
Ooh, and I almost forgot about Noelle Quinn. If LA shows interest in stealing her away (not likely but still remotely possible), she may not stay either. Ok, let’s get that out of the way. Assuming she stays here, she’s in an odd spot. She's a young, largely inexperienced coach who was handed the keys to an extremely expensive car. She made some mistakes, but was that not to be expected? Well now, she has a little experience under her belt, but the expensive car – let’s say it was a Maserati – has morphed into the equivalent of a Honda Civic. So she may have to become a talent developer, but she may not survive a full-on rebuild if the team no longer contends for several years. It’d be a riches-to-rags story that isn’t normally experienced in this League. If we woo some top free agents, maybe Quinn gets to avoid that fate. We’ll see.
With all that said: This roster has never faced more questions. (Ditto this League, with Prioritization & all.) It’s not gonna be business as usual for the Storm without Bird, let alone whoever else we’ll be missing. And given all the murkiness, I’ve never wanted to think about it less. All of this *gestures to the above millions or so words* is enough food for thought for a whole offseason. 🥴
TL;DR
If Stewart re-signs for 2023: —Run it tf back at all costs, including, yes, trading the 1RP yet again (#9) and/or even the 2024 1RP —Even if Loyd asks to be traded and ya have to trade her (that may not even be that bad of a thing depending on the trade) —Go after Vandersloot (who's playing on the same Hungarian team as Magbegor), Mabrey (RFA), Hiedeman (RFA), or Jefferson in that order; OR trade for an experienced PG (Diggins-Smith?); Notice how I didn’t say bring back Canada —Re-sign Talbot and Charles if both will re-sign for cheap. Replace them as needed —Sign young, cheap players to be part of the bench – namely on the perimeter, but also in the post if Magbegor doesn’t re-sign or Russell still can’t play by then (if neither come back in standard capacity, find another free agent center along with trying to re-sign Charles for cheap)
If Stewart sits out at least the 2023 season: —Keep Loyd, and let her help with creating the roster around her —Go after BJones, Stevens, McCowan (RFA), Harrison, the Ogwumikes, Parker?, Billings – basically in that order —Same PG targets as above, still try to re-sign Talbot and Charles for cheap —Still, trying to put together a contending roster simply won’t be as easy and likely won't happen —Realistically, Stewart sitting out leads to a soft reset – surround Loyd with younger talent but not necessarily a bunch of rookies —Re-evaluate in 2024, depending on if Stewart returns or not (though it will be harder for her to by then assuming she's still playing overseas) and if Loyd re-signs or not, since she'll be a UFA unless we get her to sign an extension midseason
If Stewart signs with another team: —Hard reset —Trade Loyd for a package of assets —Acquire young players with upside by way of the trade and thereafter —Still try to re-sign Talbot and sign a couple other middling free agents that would help develop the younger players
For the Storm a "hard reset" (tanking if another team had done it) worked pretty well last time around - 2 No. 1 draft picks in row including a future HOF player. Would the same lightening strike twice? There are some pretty good players out there in the next few years. Still if Stewart does come back the Storm become very attractive to some really good FA's. So it's not out of the question at that they would be a contender. For that reason, I think they do everything possible to make that happen (and it may not be possible within the confines of the CBA.) As for Sloot, Magbegor and the others going to Hungary - that's a very a strong team, and it seems like are contenders for the EuroCup which probably means playoffs going pretty late. Bottom line - Storm should beg Stewart to tell them her intentions as early as possible because everything else hinges on that.
As for Quinn - I don't see that they have any excuse to fire her even if they want to. If she gets an offer elsewhere - they can just act hurt and not match it. Of course, if they hired Sue Bird as coach then fans might quickly forget Quinn. It's unproven whether Bird would be a good coach (and my guess is she would but seems like a risk) and she's probably making a lot of $ doing commercials and we've seen retired players can do quite well.
I would be shocked if Stewart sat out the WNBA season due to prioritization. It strikes me as a disingenuous bluff in an attempt to pressure the league to raise salaries and the salary cap in the next CBA.
Bottom line - Storm should beg Stewart to tell them her intentions as early as possible because everything else hinges on that.
Yep. Absolutely everything in free agency next year hinges on Stewart – not just on this team, but throughout the rest of the League. We'll at least know her & everyone's approximate overseas schedule pretty soon so that players(' agents) and franchises alike can start preparing & making arrangements.
I would be shocked if Stewart sat out the WNBA season due to prioritization. It strikes me as a disingenuous bluff in an attempt to pressure the league to raise salaries and the salary cap in the next CBA.
I too don't think she'll actually end up sitting out either. But while I agree that she is calling the League's bluff, I don't think she'd mind sitting out a season just to prove a point, or just to get the League to change its policies due to its Prioritization Clause having actual consequences for the League regarding the major loss of talent – or hell, just to get some summer R&R and extra time with Ruby while healthy.
So let's just say Prioritization causes these overseas leagues to kindly change their schedule to accommodate their stars, if others like Kayla McBride are already straight-up telling their teams they'll miss their postseason in order to come back to their WNBA team on time. Doesn't that still completely defeat the purpose of Prioritization? Is the whole point of Prioritization not to have players play overseas anymore? Unless the League doesn't actually care about that and just wants players to show up on time, no matter how tired they are from a whole season of playing overseas. 🤔
Last Edit: Sept 9, 2022 15:25:48 GMT -5 by Deleted
The league is ok with 0-2 year players going overseas to get experience and improve their games. They don't want that to continue on as it has for more experienced players. The WNBA wants overseas teams to be a farm system for them, not the other way around (which it is now). The first 2-4 weeks of the season are now like an extended preseason, except the games count and teams fell behind during that period and it was hard to recover, especially if some players were injured. It was always a matter of who is going to play tonight. Plus, player do get injured overseas and are probably at risk more for injuries if they play year round.
McBride may not be representative of other players. She is going to be 31 next year and is not in the super salary range overseas like Stewart, Sloot, JJones, etc. Arguably she is not worth what she is paid in the WNBA (200k next season) for a 40.5% shooter at least on a relative basis. She might be worried that she will get suspended like Zahui B. did if she shows up late.
I just can't see foreign team paying huge salaries for players who are going to skip town right when their playoffs start. I think now it's a game of chicken (or maybe a Mexican Standoff) between the WNBA, Overseas Leagues, and the Players.
She’s got a point, she’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. 😎
She should be Seattle's most iconic athlete, male or female.
She should be, but even a couple of the local well-known sports radio talk show hosts don’t really recognize her greatness. That’s one thing I’ve always appreciated about Dick Fain, who’s one during the day. Yes, his game commentating style is brash & homery & in your face, but he gives the WNBA players he’s watched over the years their flowers, and doesn’t shy away from supporting them in front of his more sexist (imo) peers.
I'm wondering if Stewie has made a decision where she'll play this season, if she even will – though I predict that she will. If she has already set her sights on returning to the state of New York – in which the Storm are instantaneously no longer contenders without her services – it is remotely possible that (according to Richyyy) we see Jewell Loyd traded for whatever we can get in these next couple weeks ahead of the QO & core deadline in mid-January. That way, the Storm could turn around & core Stewart and not have to lose her for nothing.
It would be truly wild, and needless to say not very likely, but I hope the Storm front office is prepared for such a (doomsday?) scenario. Hopefully they told Stewie to give them the courtesy of telling them if she reaches a decision early on in this process.
And this is probably a reach but something I've kept in mind: Loyd and Mercedes Russell are the only two players we have under contract. When the schedule was released, the lil promo vid for it (it's currently the Storm account's pinned tweet) only featured Russell. Granted, it maybe didn't need more than one player, but... well, it's not like Loyd is playing overseas this season; I just feel like she was accessible and would've made more sense.
Mentally preparing myself for whatever, cuz it could come – even sooner than we think.
There is the option that if Stewie wants the supermax in New York, there would need to be a trade. Clearly New York would throw everything into a trade. The #6 pick, their 2024 first-round pick, Dolson, Onyenwere, Nyara Sabally, and anyone else Seattle would want that's not Ionescu.
Might happen. Maybe Howard wouldn't want to play alongside Stewart again. Plus Stewie and Dolson are good friends. Keep Dolson and send Howard. Dolson might play better alongside Stewart.