The Seattle Storm announced on Tuesday that they have signed veteran forward Gabby Williams for the remainder of the 2024 WNBA season.
Williams, who played for Seattle over the past two years, recently returned from the 2024 Summer Olympics, where she helped France secure a silver medal and was named the tournament’s Best Defensive Player.
“We’re thrilled to have Gabby back with the Storm,” said Storm head coach Noelle Quinn. “Gabby is a dynamic player with exceptional versatility. She excels on both ends of the court, guarding multiple positions and contributing offensively.
Given her familiarity with our system, we expect her to make an immediate impact. Gabby’s performance in the Olympics highlighted her world-class talent, and we’re excited to have her join us as we aim for the playoffs.”
Her Hoop Stats’ Richard Cohen detailed the salary cap adjustments that made Williams’ return possible:
Seattle had $24,195 in cap space left. Yesterday, the pro-rated vet minimum to sign someone was $24,249; today it’s $23,491. Hence why this is happening exactly now. By coincidence, also trade deadline day.
Gabby Williams At Olympics (Photo: Getty Images)
At 27 years old, Williams is renowned for her elite defensive abilities, which she further showcased in Paris. She averaged 2.8 steals per game while leading France in scoring (15.5 points) and assists (4.8).
Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic highlighted the uncertainty surrounding whether Williams would play with a WNBA team for the remainder of the season.
The core player designation, akin to the NFL’s franchise tag, guarantees a supermax salary for one season while giving the current team exclusive negotiating rights.
Merchant raised concerns that Williams might prefer to maintain maximum flexibility as a free agent in 2025 rather than signing now and risking a core designation next winter.
The Storm made significant moves in the offseason, acquiring both Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith. These additions have largely paid off, with Seattle currently ranked fifth in the league with a 17-10 record.
While reuniting with Williams does not entirely close the gap with the first-place New York Liberty, it does make the Storm a much stronger contender in the playoffs.
