What Gabby Williams’ return to Seattle means for Storm’s playoff push

Not long after Williams’ return became official, Storm head coach Noelle Quinn told media in Washington on Tuesday that her signing provides “an infusion of an elevation that it’s much needed at this time. Whether it’s energy, whether it’s her presence, whether it’s what she does, logistically, schematically — whatever word you want to use — what she does on the basketball court is all a positive impact and a positive contribution.”

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Playing in the Olympic Games at home, Williams is coming off a fantastic personal performance. She led France with 15.5 points and 5.8 assists per game, including a team-high 19 points in the gold medal match that came down to a single point deciding silver for the home side.

Quinn was visibly and audibly excited about adding Williams to her already stacked lineup featuring Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, and Ezi Magbegor.

“She’s so versatile. She can play multiple positions. I think about how it really impacts our defense, first and foremost,” Quinn said. “What she’s been doing comfortably offensively too is going to really, really help us. Another playmaker, another person who can get downhill, get into the paint and distribute and find. So just an infusion of a lot of things.”

Williams’ past and future Storm teammates also expressed their excitement for the signing.

“She can do everything on the floor. She’s a three-tier athlete, and I think she’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. She’s familiar with this system and I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to play with her for the first time, I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time,” Diggins-Smith told The Next. “So it’s good to have her in a mix, we need her, what she brings to the table.”

“I’m really excited to play with Gabby again,” Magbegor told media after the Storm defeated the Mystics Tuesday night. “I think she not only brings, obviously, her talent and skill on the court, but she just brings like, she’s a great person first and foremost. And I think that’s what our team is full of, just great people. It’s nice that she’s coming off a good run with the French national team. I feel like she’s going to fit into the team seamlessly.” 

A big factor when adding a key piece like Williams at this point in the season is how quickly and well the team is able to find a rhythm with their new piece. Quinn acknowledged it will be a challenge but is confident both Williams and the team are “built for it” while having a major advantage in Williams experience with her teammates and within Quinn’s system.

“I mean, the great thing about it is Gabby wants to be with us, that’s one. She’s known our system. She’s playing at a high level. She loves our organization, the players, the staff, and so there’s some familiarity that helps when you’re trying to incorporate her back,” Quinn said. “I’m going to be positive. No cons about bringing in a silver medalist.”

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Williams first joined the Storm ahead of the 2022 season via trade with the Los Angeles Sparks. She went on to start in every game of the season as Seattle pushed for one last Championship with Sue Bird, eventually falling to the eventual-champions Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Her terrific defensive play earned her WNBA second-team all-defensive honors.

Last season, Williams signed with the Storm midseason after recovering from a concussion suffered while playing for her club in France, ASVEL. Unfortunately, the guard was only able to play in 10 games before a stress-fracture in her left foot ended her season prematurely.

Despite the rough results in 2023, Williams had nothing but positive things to say during end-of-season interviews. She and the team knew she would sit out at least the first half of the 2024 WNBA season as part of her committment to the French national team ahead of the Olympics, but she expressed her desire to eventually return to Seattle.

Though she wanted to return, Williams and the Storm didn’t know how she’d be feeling after the Olympics and whether or not she would return to the WNBA this season. But considering Williams “one of our own,” Quinn says the team stayed close and connected with the UConn alum.

“I think the relationship that she has built in Seattle, her comfort here and her familiarity here, plays into us being the landing spot for her. But you know, Gabby’s family, we’re in constant communication and connected with her always,” Quinn said.

On the court Quinn and her staff will have some decisions to make. Jordan Horston has consistently started at the three for the Storm since taking over the role from Victoria Vivians 15 games into the season but Williams’ return could push Horston back to the bench.

Whether Horston comes off the bench or Williams does it will hopefully help Seattle’s reserve’s scoring struggles, currently ranking ninth in the WNBA in bench scoring with 15.0 points per game by reserves.

Quinn also discussed the possibility of moving Diggins-Smith more off the ball than her point guard duties usually allow because “Gabby has an ability to initiate and run offense and do those things like she did in France, and like she has done for us before.” Quinn continued, “you think about ball screens with Nneka. You think about her ability to just create a lot of things that I feel like we have, but it just kind of elevates everything.”

Williams is expected to join the team for her first practice on Friday and be available when the Storm return to action at home against the Mystics on Monday, Aug. 26.

“It’s going to be fun, in my opinion,” Quinn said. “Like I said, it’s a challenge. It’s not going to be easy, but Gabby’s built for it, we are built for it, and we’re excited.”

Jenn Hatfield and Rob Knox contributed reporting to this piece.