The Seattle Storm have acquired Gabby Williams. ESPN's Kevin Pelton reported Tuesday.. That means the versatile winger will be given a one-year contract at the WNBA's highest salary ($249,244) — and she won't be able to sign with another team as a free agent this offseason. However, this move does not necessarily mean Williams will remain in Seattle, as historically some players have asked to be traded after receiving a core pick. Either way, Storm is guaranteed to at least get some compensation if she goes elsewhere.
Widely regarded as one of the sport's elite defenders, Williams spent the first half of the season with the French national team, resulting in an Olympic silver medal before signing with the Storm mid-season. In 12 games with the Storm, she averaged a career-high 10.3 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
However, the season ended in disappointment. The Storm were swept by the Aces in the second round of the playoffs, and both Nneka Ogwumike and Williams entered the offseason as top free agents.
Jewell Lloyd reportedly requested a trade from Seattle in December. According to Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times. Lloyd, a six-time All-Star, has been with the organization since being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015 and has one year left on his contract. Lloyd is coming off the most inefficient season of his WNBA career, in which he averaged 19.7 points on 36% shooting and 27.4% from 3-point range.
If Williams wants to leave, the Storm could consider trading both her and Lloyd this offseason, shattering some predictions that she will join the WNBA's top team before the 2024 season. It will be. But if Williams were to remain in Seattle, she would emerge as a cornerstone of the franchise alongside Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Previously, many speculated that Williams signed with the Storm on the pretext of not using the core title. However, the source told ESPN “Williams and her representatives are not surprised by Seattle's decision to use the core designation on her and have been working closely with the Storm to determine her next steps.”
Brianna Stewart and Kelsey Plumb headline WNBA core picks
Teams can only use one core designation per offseason, and players can only have two core designations in their WNBA careers. Williams becomes the fourth player to receive a core designation from his former team, joining Sato Sabally (Dallas Wings), Brianna Stewart (New York Liberty) and Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces). Stewart, who helped the team win its first championship last season, is widely expected to remain with the Liberty, but Sabally has already told the Wings that he played his final game with the Liberty, so a trade from Dallas is expected. has been done. The future of Plum and Las Vegas is uncertain at this time.
Additional WNBA teams may have core players in the future. The Golden State Valkyries may offer Monique Billings a core designation, but her track record thus far hasn't fully reflected that of most core players. of san, connecticut For example, you can core Alyssa Thomas. In theory, the Chicago Sky could core a player like Chennedy Carter.
If Seattle uses its core picks, Williams is a likely candidate. Ogwumike, a former MVP and WNBA champion, had already been selected to the Core twice in his career and was ineligible to be named to the Core again.
