The Seattle Storm will bring back the three stars who anchored WNBA championship teams in 2018 and 2020 and won last year’s inaugural Commissioner’s Cup for what could be their final run together.
That’s most obviously the case with legendary point guard Sue Bird, who announced last month she plans to return for a 19th WNBA season at age 41. Bird has yet to re-sign with the Storm. That’s a formality that will be delayed because of the possibility of her taking less than her maximum salary to facilitate other moves, as ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported on ESPN’s WNBA free agency special Tuesday, the first official day WNBA free agents could sign with teams.
In addition to Bird, who hasn’t indicated this is her final season after considering retiring this offseason, the Storm suddenly have reason for concern about the long-term future of two-time Finals MVP Breanna Stewart after she agreed to re-sign for only a single year as an unrestricted free agent.
For now, Bird, Stewart and the team’s other All-WNBA pick — first-team guard Jewell Loyd, designated the Storm’s core player — are all back. And that could mean extra urgency to make the most of the 2022 season — the team’s first playing back in the city of Seattle after the completion of Climate Pledge Arena — before bigger changes to the roster.
Stewart returns — for now
The Storm’s decision on whether to make Loyd or Stewart a core player was a fascinating one. If given a choice between the two players, the Storm would clearly opt for Stewart, the league’s MVP in 2018 and a perennial All-WNBA first-team pick when healthy. (Both players were in the top eight of ESPN’s free agent rankings in January.) Seattle hasn’t lost a playoff matchup with a healthy Stewart since 2017, as she missed the 2019 and 2021 postseasons due to injury.
If the Storm were certain Stewart would re-sign, making Loyd the core qualifying offer would ensure Seattle could retain both stars — or at least get value in return if Loyd wanted a…
Source : espn
