Seattle Storm’s surprising free agency move could have major WNBA implications

The Storm have used their core designation on Gabby Williams. What does that mean?

The Seattle Storm have cored Gabby Williams, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton reported on Tuesday. That means that the versatile wing will be offered a one-year contract at the WNBA’s highest possible salary ($249,244) — and that she’s unable to sign with another team as a free agent this offseason. Historically, however, some players have asked for trades after receiving the core designation, so the move does not necessarily mean that Williams will stay in Seattle. Regardless, it ensures that if she does go elsewhere, the Storm will at least get some value in return.

Williams, widely considered one of the sport’s elite defenders, signed with the Storm mid-season after spending the first half of the season with the French national team, which culminated in an Olympic silver medal. In 12 games with the Storm, she averaged a career-high 10.3 points, as well as 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

But the season ended in disappointment; the Storm were swept by the Aces in the second round of the playoffs and entered the offseason with both Nneka Ogwumike and Williams as top free agents.

In December, Jewell Loyd reportedly requested a trade from Seattle, according to Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times. Loyd, a six-time All-Star, has been with the organization since she was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, and has another year left on her contract. Loyd is fresh off of the most inefficient season of her WNBA career, in which she averaged 19.7 points on 36% shooting, including 27.4% from three.

If Williams wants out, the Storm could look to trade both her and Loyd this offseason, shaking up what was expected by some to be on the WNBA’s top teams prior to the 2024 season. But, if Williams is to stay in Seattle, she’ll likely emerge as a cornerstone of the franchise, alongside Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith.

It was previously speculated by many that Williams signed with the Storm on the pretense they would not use the core designation on her. But, sources told ESPN that “Williams and her representatives were not surprised by Seattle’s decision to use the core designation on her and they have been working closely with the Storm on determining her next steps.”

Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum headline WNBA core designations

Teams can only use one core designation each offseason, and players can only be cored twice in their WNBA careers. Williams is the fourth player to receive a core designation from her previous team — joining Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), and Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces). Stewart is widely expected to remain with the Liberty after helping the team to its first-ever championship last season, while Sabally has already told the Wings she’s played her last-ever game with the organization — so expect a trade from Dallas is expected. Plum’s future with Las Vegas is unclear at this point.

Additional WNBA teams may core players in future days. The Golden State Valkyries could offer Monique Billings a core designation, although her previous production hasn’t quite mirrored that of most cored players. The Connecticut Sun could core Alyssa Thomas, for example. The Chicago Sky could theoretically core a player like Chennedy Carter.

If Seattle was going to use the core designation, Williams was the likely candidate. Ogwumike, a former MVP and WNBA champion, has already been cored twice in her career and thus was not eligible to receive the core designation again.