2022 Seattle Storm season explained

The 2022 Seattle Storm season was the franchise's 23rd season in the Women's National Basketball Association. This was the first season back in the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena.^[1]

On June 16, 2022, Sue Bird announced that this season would be her final one and that she would be retiring after the season.^[2]

The Storm started the season with an opening day win, but went on to lose their next three games. They turned their fortunes around after the three game losing streak, and went on a four-game winning streak to end the month of May 5–3. June started with two straight losses, but then the team won four games straight. They won three of their last five games to finish June 7–4. They started July strong, losing one of their first six games in the month. The end of the month saw the team only get two wins out of six games, with five of those six games being on the road. They finished July 7–5 and clinched a playoff spot on July 30. The Storm went 3–2 in August, with their only two losses coming to the first place Las Vegas Aces. They finished the season 22–14, tied for fourth with Washington. They were awarded the 4th seed based on having a better regular season record vs. Washington.

In their First Round series, the Storm had home court advantage as the fourth seed, and faced off against the fifth seeded Washington Mystics. The Storm won a close game one 86–83. They took advantage of their home court and won game two by thirteen points, to sweep the series. In the Semifinals, they were up against the first seeded Aces. The Storm won another close game one, 76–73 in Las Vegas. However, they would go on to lose the next three games and lose the series three games to one. Most of the games in the series were close, with game two being decided by four points, game three going into overtime, and game four being decided by five points.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2022 WNBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	School/team/country
2	17	Elissa Cunane		NC State
2	18	Lorela Cubaj		Georgia Tech
2	21	Evina Westbrook		UConn
3	33	Jade Melbourne		Canberra Capitals (

Trades and Roster Changes

Date	Transaction
January 4, 2022	Extended Qualifying Offers to Stephanie Talbot, Jordin Canada, and Mercedes Russell[3]
January 14, 2022	Extended a Core Qualifying Offer to Jewell Loyd[4]
January 21, 2022	Hired Pokey Chatman and Ebony Hoffman as assistant coaches[5]
February 1, 2022	Re-Signed Jewell Loyd to a Two-Year Deal[6] [7]
	Re-Signed Mercedes Russell to a Three-Year Deal[8] [9]
February 2, 2022	Re-Signed Breanna Stewart to a One-Year Deal[10] [11]
	Signed Briann January to a One-Year Deal[12] [13]
February 3, 2022	Traded Katie Lou Samuelson and the 9th pick in the 2022 WNBA draft to Los Angeles in exchange for Gabby Williams.[14]
February 4, 2022	Signed Stephanie Talbot to a training-camp contract[15]
February 5, 2022	Rescinded the Qualifying Offer to Jordin Canada[16]
February 18, 2022	Signed Sue Bird to a One-Year Deal[17]
February 24, 2022	Signed Lauren Manis to a training-camp contract[18]
March 21, 2022	Signed Jantel Lavender to a training-camp contract[19]
April 11, 2022	Traded the rights to Lorela Cubaj to the New York Liberty in exchange for a 2nd Round Pick in the 2023 Draft
April 14, 2022	Signed Elissa Cunane and Evina Westbrook to rookie-scale contracts
	Signed Paisley Harding, Jenna Giacone, and Raina Perez to training-camp contracts[20]
April 26, 2022	Waived Lauren Manis[21]
April 30, 2022	Waived Paisley Harding and Jenna Giacone[22]
May 2, 2022	Signed Reshanda Gray to a training-camp contract[23]
	Waived Elissa Cunane and Raina Perez[24]
May 4, 2022	Waived Evina Westbrook, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, and Kennedy Burke[25]
May 11, 2022	Signed Raina Perez to a Hardship Contract[26]
May 13, 2022	Signed Kaela Davis to a Hardship Contract[27]
May 16, 2022	Released Raina Perez from her Hardship Contract
May 18, 2022	Released Kaela Davis from her Hardship Contract
May 27, 2022	Signed Kiana Williams to a Hardship Contract[28]
May 28, 2022	Signed Kaela Davis to a Hardship Contract[29]
June 2, 2022	Released Kiana Williams and Kaela Davis from their Hardship Contracts
June 3, 2022	Signed Kiana Williams to a Hardship Contract
June 4, 2022	Released Kiana Williams from her Hardship Contract[30]
June 24, 2022	Waived Reshanda Gray[31]
June 28, 2022	Signed Tina Charles[32]

Roster

Depth

Pos.	Starter	Bench
	C	Tina Charles	Ezi Magbegor Mercedes Russell
	PF	Breanna Stewart	Jantel Lavender
	SF	Gabby Williams	Stephanie Talbot
	SG	Jewell Loyd	Epiphanny Prince
	PG	Sue Bird	Briann January

Schedule

Preseason

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| April 23| Los Angeles| W 81–68| Breanna Stewart (20)| Ezi Magbegor (8)| Breanna Stewart (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
5,734| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| April 28| @ Phoenix| W 82–78| Breanna Stewart (16)| Breanna Stewart (7)| Bird
Stewart (4)| Footprint Center
2,759| 2–0

Regular Season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 6| Minnesota| W 97–74| Loyd
Stewart (17)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Sue Bird (9)| Climate Pledge Arena
12,904| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| May 8| @ Las Vegas| L 74–85| Breanna Stewart (21)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Sue Bird (7)| Michelob Ultra Arena
6,212| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| May 11| @ Phoenix| L 77–97| Jewell Loyd (26)| Lavender
Loyd
Magbegor
Williams (5)| Sue Bird (6)| Footprint Center
6,098| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| May 14| Phoenix| L 64–69| Jewell Loyd (26)| Stephanie Talbot (14)| Bird
Loyd
Talbot (3)| Climate Pledge Arena
12,453| 1–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| May 18| Chicago| W 74–71| Ezi Magbegor (21)| Stephanie Talbot (7)| Sue Bird (7)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,450| 2–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6| May 20| Los Angeles| W 83–80| Breanna Stewart (28)| Ezi Magbegor (11)| Sue Bird (8)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,103| 3–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7| May 27| New York| W 79–71| Breanna Stewart (31)| Lavender
Stewart
Williams (9)| Prince
Stewart (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,001| 4–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| May 29| New York| W 92–61| Jewell Loyd (22)| Jantel Lavender (10)| Jewell Loyd (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
10,228| 5–3|-|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9| June 3| Dallas| L 51–68| Breanna Stewart (27)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Briann January (7)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,023| 5–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 10| June 5| Connecticut| L 86–93| Ezi Magbegor (19)| Ezi Magbegor (7)| Jewell Loyd (7)| Climate Pledge Arena
11,330| 5–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11| June 7| Atlanta| W 72–60| Jewell Loyd (26)| Magbegor
Stewart (7)| Sue Bird (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,262| 6–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12| June 10| @ Dallas| W 89–88| Breanna Stewart (32)| Breanna Stewart (11)| Gabby Williams (9)| College Park Center
3,292| 7–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13| June 12| @ Dallas| W 84–79| Breanna Stewart (25)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Sue Bird (7)| College Park Center
3,273| 8–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| June 14| @ Minnesota| W 81–79| Breanna Stewart (29)| Gabby Williams (10)| Gabby Williams (8)| Target Center
6,031| 9–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 15| June 17| @ Connecticut| L 71–82| Breanna Stewart (19)| Breanna Stewart (7)| Breanna Stewart (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
7,088| 9–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16| June 19| @ New York| W 81–72| Gabby Williams (23)| Stewart
Williams (9)| Jewell Loyd (7)| Barclays Center
6,859| 10–6|- style="background:#cfc;"| 17| June 23| Washington| W 85–71| Jewell Loyd (22)| Breanna Stewart (9)| Sue Bird (8)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,884| 11–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 18| June 25| Los Angeles| L 77–85| Breanna Stewart (28)| Breanna Stewart (7)| Sue Bird (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,955| 11–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 19| June 29| Las Vegas| W 88–78| Jewell Loyd (24)| Ezi Magbegor (8)| Sue Bird (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,499| 12–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 20| July 1| Indiana| W 73–57| Breanna Stewart (20)| Tina Charles (8)| Jewell Loyd (7)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,565| 13–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 21| July 3| @ Atlanta| L 76–90| Breanna Stewart (19)| Ezi Magbegor (7)| January
Prince (4)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 13–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22| July 5| @ Indiana| W 95–73| Jewell Loyd (25)| Ezi Magbegor (11)| Sue Bird (5)| Indiana Farmers Coliseum
2,585| 14–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 23| July 7| @ Los Angeles| W 106–69| Breanna Stewart (23)| Ezi Magbegor (11)| Jewell Loyd (7)| Crypto.com Arena
6,389| 15–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24| July 12| Dallas| W 83–74| Breanna Stewart (19)| Tina Charles (9)| Sue Bird (7)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,486| 16–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25| July 17| Indiana| W 81–65| Breanna Stewart (25)| Stewart
Williams (8)| Sue Bird (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
9,970| 17–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| July 20| @ Chicago| L 74–78| Breanna Stewart (24)| Charles
Williams (6)| Bird
Loyd (4)| Wintrust Arena
8,893| 17–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 27| July 22| @ Phoenix| L 78–94| Breanna Stewart (22)| Breanna Stewart (14)| Bird
Loyd
Williams (5)| Footprint Center
14,162| 17–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 28| July 24| Atlanta| W 82–72| Tina Charles (27)| Tina Charles (15)| Sue Bird (5)| Climate Pledge Arena
12,654| 18–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 29| July 28| @ Connecticut| L 83–88| Breanna Stewart (17)| Tina Charles (10)| Sue Bird (7)| Mohegan Sun Arena
9,137| 18–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30| July 30| @ Washington| W 82–77| Breanna Stewart (18)| Tina Charles (9)| Sue Bird (7)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200| 19–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 31| July 31| @ Washington| L 75–78| Breanna Stewart (23)| Charles
Stewart (5)| Sue Bird (7)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200| 19–12|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32| August 3| Minnesota| W 89–77| Breanna Stewart (33)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Sue Bird (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
13,500| 20–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 33| August 7| Las Vegas| L 81–89| Breanna Stewart (35)| Breanna Stewart (10)| Bird
G. Williams (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
18,100| 20–13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 34| August 9| @ Chicago| W 111–100| Breanna Stewart (25)| Breanna Stewart (9)| Sue Bird (8)| Wintrust Arena
9,314| 21–13|- style="background:#cfc;"| 35| August 12| @ Minnesota| W 96–69| Tina Charles (23)| Breanna Stewart (10)| Gabby Williams (7)| Target Center
12,134| 22–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 36| August 14| @ Las Vegas| L 100–109| Jewell Loyd (38)| Breanna Stewart (15)| Sue Bird (7)| Michelob Ultra Arena
10,015| 22–14|-

Playoffs

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| August 18| Washington| W 86–83| Breanna Stewart (23)| Breanna Stewart (12)| Gabby Williams (6)| Climate Pledge Arena
8,917| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| August 21| Washington| W 97–84| Breanna Stewart (21)| Breanna Stewart (10)| Sue Bird (10)| Climate Pledge Arena
12,490| 2–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| August 28| @ Las Vegas| W 76–73| Jewell Loyd (26)| Tina Charles (18)| Sue Bird (12)| Michelob Ultra Arena
9,944| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| August 31| @ Las Vegas| L 73–78| Breanna Stewart (32)| Tina Charles (9)| Sue Bird (6)| Michelob Ultra Arena
9,755| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| September 4| Las Vegas| L 98–110 (OT)| Breanna Stewart (20)| Breanna Stewart (15)| Sue Bird (8)| Climate Pledge Arena
15,431| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| September 6| Las Vegas| L 92–97| Breanna Stewart (42)| Tina Charles (9)| Sue Bird (8)| Climate Pledge Arena
11,328| 1–3

Playoffs

See also: 2022 WNBA Playoffs.

Statistics

Regular Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Breanna Stewart	34	34	30.9	.472	.379	.837	7.6	2.9	1.6	0.9	21.8
Jewell Loyd	36	36	30.3	.396	.385	.893	2.6	3.4	1.1	0.2	16.3
Tina Charles≠	18	10	25.2	.477	.341	.885	7.4	1.8	0.6	0.6	12.6
Kaela Davis‡	1	0	18.0	.571	.667	1.000	2.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	11.0
Ezi Magbegor	33	23	24.8	.550	.345	.736	5.6	1.4	0.9	1.8	9.5
Sue Bird	31	31	26.4	.403	.389	1.000	1.9	6.0	1.2	0.1	7.8
Gabby Williams	36	36	25.6	.444	.257	.778	5.0	3.1	1.5	0.4	7.5
Stephanie Talbot	34	1	16.1	.464	.397	.583	3.1	1.3	0.7	0.3	5.0
Epiphanny Prince	33	0	12.3	.355	.356	.840	1.0	1.8	0.6	0.1	3.9
Jantel Lavender	27	4	12.2	.409	.208	.667	3.3	0.9	0.1	0.1	3.8
Briann January	36	5	16.9	.377	.311	.826	1.0	2.4	0.6	0.2	3.7
Reshanda Gray‡	11	0	7.7	.500	.667	.833	2.2	0.1	0.2	0.0	2.5
Mercedes Russell	5	0	10.8	.500	.000	.667	1.8	0.2	0.0	0.0	2.0
Kiana Williams‡	3	0	9.0	.250	.250	.000	0.7	1.7	0.0	0.0	1.7
Raina Perez‡	1	0	2.0	.000	.000	.000	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

^‡Waived/Released during the season
^†Traded during the season
^≠Acquired during the season

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Breanna Stewart	6	6	38.8	.513	.520	.892	9.5	4.2	1.0	1.8	27.0
Jewell Loyd	6	6	37.0	.389	.357	.929	2.3	2.5	0.5	0.0	19.2
Tina Charles	6	6	26.2	.431	.231	.286	8.8	1.8	0.5	0.5	11.5
Sue Bird	6	6	35.7	.431	.433	1.000	2.2	7.7	0.8	0.2	10.2
Gabby Williams	4	4	25.3	.667	.333	.857	4.0	2.8	1.5	0.3	10.0
Stephanie Talbot	6	2	21.3	.448	.500	.600	4.3	1.7	0.5	0.5	6.2
Ezi Magbegor	6	0	15.5	.583	.000	.667	2.7	1.0	0.7	1.0	5.0
Briann January	6	0	7.2	.500	.000	.000	0.5	1.2	0.0	0.0	1.0
Epiphanny Prince	6	0	5.7	.200	.000	.000	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.0	0.3

Awards and honors

Recipient	Award	Date awarded	Ref.
Breanna Stewart	Western Conference Player of the Week	June 13	[33]
	WNBA All-Star Starter & Co-Captain	June 22	[34]
	Western Conference Player of the Month - June	July 5	[35]
	Peak Performer:Points	August 15	[36]
	All-Defensive First Team	August 30	[37]
	All-WNBA First Team	September 15	[38]
Sue Bird	WNBA All-Star Starter & Co-Captain	June 22
Jewell Loyd	WNBA All-Star Selection	June 28	[39]
Gabby Williams	All-Defensive Second Team	August 30	[40]
Ezi Magbegor

External links

• Official website of the Seattle Storm

Notes and References

1. News: Welcome Home to Climate Pledge Arena. January 1, 2022. Seattle Storm . November 16, 2021.
2. Web site: Sue Bird announces retirement at end of 2022 season . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . June 24, 2022.
3. Web site: Seattle Storm PR Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . January 6, 2022.
4. Web site: Seattle Storm PR Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . January 14, 2022.
5. Web site: Storm head coach Noelle Quinn announces 2022 coaching staff . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . January 21, 2022.
6. Web site: Jewell Loyd re-signs with the Storm . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . February 1, 2022.
7. Web site: Rachel Galligan Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . February 1, 2022.
8. Web site: Seattle Storm Re-Signs Mercedes Russell . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . February 1, 2022.
9. Web site: Richard Cohen Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . February 1, 2022.
10. Web site: Breanna Stewart returns to the Storm. storm.wnba.com . WNBA . February 2, 2022.
11. Web site: Chris Haynes Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . February 2, 2022.
12. Web site: Storm Signs Free Agent Guard Briann January . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . February 2, 2022.
13. Web site: Richard Cohen 2 . twitter.com . Twitter . February 2, 2022.
14. Web site: Storm & Sparks Complete Trade. wnba.com . WNBA . February 3, 2022. February 4, 2022.
15. Web site: Storm Re-Signs Forward Stephanie Talbot . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . February 10, 2022.
16. Web site: Seattle Storm PR . twitter.com . Twitter . February 10, 2022.
17. Web site: Sue Bird Re-Signs For 21st Year In Seattle . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . February 19, 2022.
18. Web site: Seattle Storm Sign Lauren Manis to training-camp contract . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . February 27, 2022.
19. Web site: Storm Sign Free Agent Forward Jantel Lavender . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . April 9, 2022.
20. Web site: Storm adds three to finalize training camp roster . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . April 15, 2022.
21. Web site: ROSTER UPDATE: The Storm has waived Lauren Manis. . twitter.com . Twitter . April 26, 2022.
22. Web site: ROSTER UPDATE: The Storm has waived guards Jenna Giacone and Paisley Harding. . twitter.com . Twitter . May 2, 2022.
23. Web site: Storm signs forward Reshanda Gray to training camp contract . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . May 2, 2022.
24. Web site: ROSTER UPDATE: Storm waives guard Raina Perez and center Elissa Cunane. . twitter.com . Twitter . May 2, 2022.
25. Web site: ROSTER UPDATE: The Storm has waived Evina Westbrook, Kiki Herbert Harrigan, and Kennedy Burke. . twitter.com . Twitter . May 4, 2022.
26. Web site: Storm signs Raina Perez . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . May 12, 2022.
27. Web site: Storm signs Kaela Davis to hardship contract . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . May 14, 2022.
28. Web site: Storm signs Kiana Williams . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . June 1, 2022.
29. Web site: Storm Signs Kaela Davis to Hardship Contract . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . June 1, 2022.
30. Web site: ROSTER UPDATE: Sue Bird and Ezi Magbegor have been cleared to return from health and safety protocols and will be active for Sunday's game vs Connecticut. In a corresponding move, the Storm has released Kiana Williams from her hardship contract. . twitter.com . Twitter . June 5, 2022.
31. Web site: Seattle waives Reshanda Gray . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . June 24, 2022.
32. Web site: Storm signs center Tina Charles . storm.wnba.com . WNBA . June 28, 2022.
33. WNBA. June 13, 2022. 1536396371053334528. We had some pretty memorable games from these two this week The WNBA Players of the Week are @breannastewart and @sabrina_i20 .
34. Web site: AT&T WNBA All-Star Starters Announced With Seattle Storm's Sue Bird Extending Record-Number of All-Star Selections to 13 . wnba.com . WNBA . June 22, 2022.
35. WNBA. July 5, 2022. 1544376613659234304. These two WENT OFF all June! @breannastewart & @sabrina_i20 are your Western and Eastern Conference @Kia #WNBA Players of the Month .
36. WNBA. August 15, 2022. 1559255734910590977. THE BEST OF THE BEST Congratulations to @breannastewart, @SylviaFowles, and @T_Cloud4 for being named the 2022 WNBA Peak Performers #MoreThan.
37. WNBA. August 30, 2022. 1564646201957367808. Your 2022 #WNBA All-Defensive First Team ⬇️ @_ajawilson22 @T_Cloud4 @SylviaFowles @breannastewart @arielatkinssvn #MoreThan.
38. Kia WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson Leads 2022 All-WNBA First Team . WNBA . September 15, 2022 . September 17, 2022.
39. Web site: Chicago Sky Trio of Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot Highlight Reserves for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022 . wnba.com . WNBA . July 1, 2022.
40. WNBA. August 30, 2022. 1564647736825155585. Your 2022 #WNBA All-Defensive Second Team ⬇️ @athomas_25 @ezimagbegor @jus242 @BrittBundlez @gabbywilliams15 #MoreThan.