The Storm’s new era was made official Tuesday afternoon when coach Noelle Quinn and general manager Talisa Rhea spoke to the media for the first time since trading Lincolnwood product Jewell Loyd.
The message was clear: there is no faith lost in their staff.
“It’s been very clear this group of players is very aligned and they’re very connected in a few things,” Rhea said. “One, they want to be here in Seattle. Two, they want to play for Noelle and her coaching staff. Third, they want to build on the championship legacy that we have here with the Storm.”
An investigation into the Storm’s coaching staff for alleged harassment and bullying was conducted in the fall. In December, the team announced the investigation had concluded with no violations found. Two-time WNBA champion Jewell Loyd was at the center of the investigation after she filed a complaint against the Storm’s coaching staff.
Loyd requested a trade following the conclusion of the investigation. Ultimately, a three-team trade was executed, landing Loyd in Las Vegas, Kelsey Plum in Los Angeles and Li Yueru and the No. 2 overall pick in Seattle.
The Storm’s new direction will be built upon the experience of veteran stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith. Rhea also emphasized the importance of re-signing forward Gabby Williams and bringing back three-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark. Rhea’s free agency success affirms players’ belief in the Storms front office, Quinn and her coaching staff.
Still, it was just a year ago that Loyd — who signed a two-year contract extension with the Storm before the end of the 2023 season — was being praised as the franchise’s foundational player in the post-Sue Bird era. So, what then led to the relationship reaching an irreparable status?
“I don’t think you can pinpoint any one thing,” Rhea said. “We’ve had a very strong relationship with Jewell and being able to be transparent and open in our communication. As last season went on and into this season, we wanted to do what we felt like was best for our organization and for Jewell.”
The Sky pursued a potential trade for Loyd, but those conversations cooled after it was communicated her desire was to play for the Aces.
“This whole process has been leaning on the people that have cared for me,” Loyd said during her introductory press conference with the Aces. “At the end of the day, I always want to get back to me. I want to have this joy about myself. I want to have this joy about the way I play and be around people who can elevate that. It’s easy to harp on the bad, but you want to have more good days than bad days. I definitely have more good days than that.”
Quinn and Rhea both acknowledged the importance of letting the process of the investigation carry out.
Regarding whether this investigation will change her approach to coaching, Quinn said she constantly evaluates ways she can grow. She will continue to lean on the Storm coaching staff, which includes Pokey Chatman and Ebony Hoffman to help advise her direction.
“I’m not a finished product,” Quinn said. “I’m going to continue to grow and lean on my experiences to help me. At the end of the day, it’s not about changing. It’s about evolving. I’m going to continue to do whatever is necessary to be the best version of myself that I can be. Yes, I learned a lot but I also learned that I have a lot of support. I’m super grateful for our owners, our leadership group and I will continue to lead in a way that’s admirable to those guys.”