What the [bleep] is going on with the Seattle Storm? (Final)
There's no conclusion that can be drawn, only facts to be taken into consideration
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I have received conflicting feedback about Part 2, and I’m not surprised. What is happening with the Seattle Storm is not something that is easy to pinpoint. It has layers, and not all of these layers are going to be pretty to look at. Bringing up a player’s name on a potentially negative light can stir up a hornet’s nest, but that’s alright. As a journalist, I know what I’m putting myself up for.
I want to bring attention to two things:
I am reporting on what sources extremely close to the situation have to say, and ALL of it paints a light on how things got to where they are. When asking directly what kind of bullying and harassment the players underwent under Noelle Quinn and her staff, there is no explicit answer or example. I’ve been told that there have been extremely harsh words and that there was pressure for players not to get the ball.
Sources on the coaches’ side are hesitant to speak on the record. Sources on Jewell’s side are eager for the story to be told. There is a pattern that is not made up. Instead, it shows the importance of seeing women’s basketball as a serious business where people need to be well prepared to handle all sorts of crisis that may come their way.
Without further ado, the point I want to make today is that there is one topic both sides converge on: lack of support and leadership from owners and front office.
Earlier this year, I had confirmation that there was conflict among Noelle Quinn, Jewell Loyd and the ownership group. I had also sounded the alarm that things could take turn at any moment. The moment is now.
People familiar with both the coaches’ and Jewell Loyd have expressed the same concerns about the front office, one of them being that ownership knew of the conflicts but stood idle.
I was also told that they were not prepared for Breanna Stewart’s departure, as posted in part 1, and that up until January 31, 2023, there was confidence in the fact that Stewie was staying. That meant Noelle Quinn and her coaching staff didn’t know which players they would work with, as only four or five were under contract with the team the first days of free agency.
Jewell Loyd became the expected team leader, and was treated as such. The priority was to make Jewell happy, which they did a good job at with all of the attention on her records. However, the team did not get wins, and without wins you can’t get a championship.
Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike were brought in during the 2024 free agency to help both with the on court gaps and the off court leadership. As I mentioned on part 2, it took a minute for fans to get acclimated to Skylar, but there weren’t immediate issues with Ogwumike. The point guard had been deemed crazy among the Seattle community, as a result of bias towards outspoken Black women.
In my opinion (and that’s the first time I am openly sharing my thoughts on the situation), no one was set up for success. Neither Jewell Loyd, nor Noelle Quinn, nor Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike. And despite being aware of the conflicts, leadership didn’t step in to mediate, allowing the situation to get to a potential point of no return.
The Seattle Storm majority ownership group is an all-female, all-white group. The people who have been targeted for criticism are three Black women with very different personalities, all valid in their own way. Social media and the current journalism landscape wants easy and immediate responses. That’s not how you get to the root of the problem in this situation.
I hear that a trade might be inevitable, and that the relationship is too strained to restore between player and coach. That makes me sad, because this Storm team has championship potential, and under the correct leadership, could bring back the Seattle Storm glorious years.
I will be waiting for the results of the investigation, and will report the findings when/if the Seattle Storm makes it public. In the meantime, subscribe to Beta Basket and follow me on social media. You can always expect serious and unbiased journalism.
THE END
Although I have personal experience with the front office and the ownership group, NONE (I repeat, NONE) of what brought in this report is based on that. I have relationships spanning the Seattle sports industry, the United States and other continents in a web of contacts. I know my name has just recently become known in the WNBA media, but I’ve been doing this sort of reporting for a long time.
I have reported on sexism in the Brazilian national team and league, which resulted with a pro-abortion coach losing their role with the federation. I have spoken up about the president of the Brazilian national league suing of an athlete during his time as a team president because she didn’t follow a ridiculous ask.
I was also the one who broke the news of Nika Mühl having visa issues and Damiris Dantas’ delay in getting to the Indiana Fever. There is a lot more that I had known before it got out to the world, because I was always worried about what people could say about me.
Not anymore. I feel empowered by my experience, my peers and now my readers. I know that, as an immigrant and someone whose English is not their first language, I need to prove myself time and time again to stay relevant in the WNBA media landscape. And after the recent developments in this country, I know it’ll be harder than ever. That’s alright. I’ll prove myself to those who have serious interest in hearing me, not Twitter trolls who feed off drama and mess.
The only thing that I disagree with in this story (all 3 parts) is “ The point guard had been deemed crazy among the Seattle community, as a result of bias towards outspoken Black women.” I lived in Seattle for 18 years. It’s one of the most diverse, welcoming cities out there. The Seattle community is not biased toward any woman sharing her thoughts, let alone black. People in general have struggled to understand strong women who speak their mind, black, white or otherwise. And u said a trade was inevitable. A coaching change could address the need for a change. I want Gold Mamba more than I want Noelle. And I like Noelle.
What is your evidence for "The point guard had been deemed crazy among the Seattle community, as a result of bias towards outspoken Black women?"
I know there were a few detractors on Facebook worried about her exits from Tulsa and Phoenix, but I'd say most people were excited to get her here.