This team is way too talented to be 16-13. Just disappointing. On a positive its good to watch Dom grow and get better. And the Mariners took 3 ,of 4 from Texas and sit just 2.5 back from the Astros.
If the Storm are going to lose games, the best thing that can happen is that Dominique Malonga gets playing time, develops, gains experience, and grows in these games. That's definitely what happened in this game. And yes, it was great to see the Mariners take 3 of 4 from the Rangers!
It's certainly possible. Kevin Pelton suggested that in one of his ESPN articles. It would cost Seattle Alysha Clark, and one other player (probably Zia Cooke or Lexie Brown), plus at least one of Seattle's first-round picks next season. It would help the Storm's outside shooting. And potentially help with some of their scoring issues. But with how poorly the team has played over the past month, I'm not sure (and have my doubts) that it would turn Seattle into a serious contender. As I've written previously, it could also cause problems for them regarding protecting players from the expansion teams. Adding Mabrey would mean that there's one more player they'd have to protect, and then they'd lose someone else in the expansion draft. By contrast, the first round picks are protected from the expansion draft and would be a player under a rookie contract for 3-5 years.
We don't know the exact rules for these next expansion drafts, but Seattle (and all WNBA teams) were allowed to protect six players during the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft last year. If those rules say the same, that has to include any Unrestricted Free Agents as well. If they traded for Mabrey, even though she will be a UFA, they would still have to protect her or lose her for nothing.
If the same rules apply, Nneka Ogwumike might not need to be protected because the rules were only one UFA from all the teams could be selected, with two teams, it would be two UFA total. But they couldn't have had the Core Franchise tag placed on them two times previously (which Nneka has).
If Seattle had to protect Nneka, and traded for Mabrey, they'd have to protect Nneka, Skylar, Gabby, Dom, Ezi, and Mabrey. That would leave a talented player like Jordan Horston exposed. If they don't need to worry about protecting Nneka, they could protect Jordan. But then all the other players, Erica Wheeler, Katie Lou Samuelson, Nika Mühl, Lexie Brown, Zia Cooke, Alysha Clark, Mackenzie Holmes, etc. would all be exposed.
I think you're misunderstanding UFA's and the expansion draft. The only way you can protect a UFA is if you've cored them. Otherwise, they're not under contract to you or anyone else. That also means an expansion team can't draft an un-cored UFA. They have the right to sign anywhere they want.
No, I don't believe that is right. Teams had to protect even their UFA because the Expansion team was allowed to take/core one UFA. For instance, if the Storm did not protect Skylar Diggins, even though she is going to be a UFA, Portland could core her, and she would then be taken in the expansion draft.
The only players under contract for 2026 are Brown, Malonga, Horston, and Muhl. Brown and Horston are Protected contracts (they have to be paid and count against the cap,) Malonga and Muhl can be cut.
All the rest are UFA. Gabby Williams can be cored one more time under the current CBA.
This team is way too talented to be 16-13. Just disappointing. On a positive its good to watch Dom grow and get better. And the Mariners took 3 ,of 4 from Texas and sit just 2.5 back from the Astros.
If the Storm are going to lose games, the best thing that can happen is that Dominique Malonga gets playing time, develops, gains experience, and grows in these games. That's definitely what happened in this game. And yes, it was great to see the Mariners take 3 of 4 from the Rangers!
I wonder if the Storm make a trade? Maybe for Marina Mabrey and move Wheeler to the bench?
It's certainly possible. Kevin Pelton suggested that in one of his ESPN articles. It would cost Seattle Alysha Clark, and one other player (probably Zia Cooke or Lexie Brown), plus at least one of Seattle's first-round picks next season. It would help the Storm's outside shooting. And potentially help with some of their scoring issues. But with how poorly the team has played over the past month, I'm not sure (and have my doubts) that it would turn Seattle into a serious contender. As I've written previously, it could also cause problems for them regarding protecting players from the expansion teams. Adding Mabrey would mean that there's one more player they'd have to protect, and then they'd lose someone else in the expansion draft. By contrast, the first round picks are protected from the expansion draft and would be a player under a rookie contract for 3-5 years.
Nika Muhl and Holmes. How many do you have to leave unprotected? Gotta protect Horston and Dom.
We don't know the exact rules for these next expansion drafts, but Seattle (and all WNBA teams) were allowed to protect six players during the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft last year. If those rules say the same, that has to include any Unrestricted Free Agents as well. If they traded for Mabrey, even though she will be a UFA, they would still have to protect her or lose her for nothing.
If the same rules apply, Nneka Ogwumike might not need to be protected because the rules were only one UFA from all the teams could be selected, with two teams, it would be two UFA total. But they couldn't have had the Core Franchise tag placed on them two times previously (which Nneka has).
If Seattle had to protect Nneka, and traded for Mabrey, they'd have to protect Nneka, Skylar, Gabby, Dom, Ezi, and Mabrey. That would leave a talented player like Jordan Horston exposed. If they don't need to worry about protecting Nneka, they could protect Jordan. But then all the other players, Erica Wheeler, Katie Lou Samuelson, Nika Mühl, Lexie Brown, Zia Cooke, Alysha Clark, Mackenzie Holmes, etc. would all be exposed.
I think you're misunderstanding UFA's and the expansion draft. The only way you can protect a UFA is if you've cored them. Otherwise, they're not under contract to you or anyone else. That also means an expansion team can't draft an un-cored UFA. They have the right to sign anywhere they want.
No, I don't believe that is right. Teams had to protect even their UFA because the Expansion team was allowed to take/core one UFA. For instance, if the Storm did not protect Skylar Diggins, even though she is going to be a UFA, Portland could core her, and she would then be taken in the expansion draft.
Mabrey, Horston, Dom, Gabby, and then I'm not sure since Ezi, Sky and Nneka will be free agents correct?
The only players under contract for 2026 are Brown, Malonga, Horston, and Muhl. Brown and Horston are Protected contracts (they have to be paid and count against the cap,) Malonga and Muhl can be cut.
All the rest are UFA. Gabby Williams can be cored one more time under the current CBA.