Navigating the Storm
The 2025 offseason has brought significant changes for the Seattle Storm, headlined by the high-profile departure of superstar guard Jewell Loyd. With her exit, the last link to the 2020 championship team is gone—officially ending an era. But where one chapter ends, another begins, and the Storm are in a strong position heading into this next phase.
Seattle's current roster is solid, featuring starters like Skylar Diggins-Smith, Nneka Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor, and Gabby Williams, with quality depth in Alysha Clark, Katie Lou Samuelson, Erica Wheeler, and Lexie Brown. Even more valuable, though, is the draft capital they've acquired. In the trade that sent Loyd to Las Vegas, the Storm received the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft and an additional first-rounder in 2026—giving them three first-round picks over the next two years. If they make the most of these selections, the Storm could reestablish themselves as perennial title contenders. This article focuses on the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, which will take place on April 14th. We'll look at Seattle's top options and how each player fits into the team's future.
Just a week ago, Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles was the presumed pick at No. 2—a perfect fit to fill Seattle's biggest hole at shooting guard and an exciting potential pairing with fellow Notre Dame alum Diggins-Smith. That changed when Miles announced she'd stay in college another year. LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson, another top target, quickly became the next favorite—until she also chose to return to school. These decisions make sense. Both players are likely waiting for the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement, expected in 2026, which is anticipated to raise the salary cap and player salaries significantly. By staying in college another year, they benefit from NIL deals now and likely land larger rookie contracts later.
With Miles and Johnson off the board, the Storm must pivot. The safest choice may be Notre Dame's Sonia Citron. She's widely seen as the most pro-ready player in the draft behind Paige Bueckers, nicknamed the "silent assassin" by head coach Niele Ivey; the 6'1" small forward offers a reliable 3-and-D skillset and excels in areas that don't always show up in the box score—tough defense, good screens, and solid shooting. While her limited athleticism may cap her ceiling, her polish and readiness could immediately make her a valuable contributor. Citron makes perfect sense if the Storm opts for stability and delays their search for a franchise player to 2026.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is 19-year-old French center Dominique Malonga—a raw but tantalizing prospect. At 6'6", Malonga combines elite size with explosive athleticism, dominating as a shot-blocker and interior scorer in France, averaging 18.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, and one block per game. However, her offensive game is still a work in progress. Most of her scoring comes from the paint, and teams that keep her out of that area can neutralize her impact. That said, she showed signs of growth last season with LDLC ASVEL Féminin, adding a short-range fade away and even beginning to hit some threes. Malonga's WNBA success will depend on whether she can continue expanding her offensive game. She might need time before becoming a major contributor, but her upside is enormous. If the Storm are willing to take a swing on long-term potential, Malonga is their best bet.
Based on the two prospects we've examined so far, the Storm appear to be choosing between two extremes: Citron, a pro-ready player with a limited ceiling, and Malonga, who has massive potential but isn't ready to contribute right away. Fortunately, there's a compelling middle ground—USC power forward Kiki Iriafen.
Iriafen is a challenging prospect to evaluate. Entering this season, she was widely considered the second-best player in her class behind Paige Bueckers. However, after transferring to USC, her role diminished as teammate JuJu Watkins emerged as a college star. This reduced usage impacted Iriafen's draft stock, even though she still averaged 18.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She quieted some doubts in the NCAA Tournament, especially in the round of 32 against Mississippi State. After Watkins went down with a torn ACL, Iriafen stepped up as the primary option, scoring 36 points and nine rebounds. While she struggled in later games, that performance reminded scouts of her franchise potential. At 6'3", Iriafen is a skilled post scorer and strong rebounder. Her jump shot shows promise, though consistency remains a work in progress. Overall, she balances Citron's polish and Malonga's upside—more refined and ready than Malonga but with more long-term potential than Citron. If the Storm wants a player who can contribute immediately while still developing into a star, Iriafen may be the ideal choice.
While the sun has set on an era of Seattle Storm basketball, a new era is rising, beginning with this year's draft. The Storm will most likely pick one of these three prospects at number 2, but obviously, the Storm could shock us all and draft someone else. No matter who the Storm drafts, they will be the first players of this new era, so I hope it's someone good.
