2021 Seattle Storm season explained

The 2021 Seattle Storm season is the franchise's 22nd season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Due to ongoing renovations at the Climate Pledge Arena, the Storm played their home games at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.^[1]

On May 30, 2021, head coach Dan Hughes announced his retirement; the Storm named associate head coach Noelle Quinn as his permanent replacement.^[2]

The Storm started the season with a finals rematch against the Las Vegas Aces. They split the series at home, 1–1. The rest of the opening month went smoother for the team, as that would be their only loss in May. Two of their wins game in overtime as well. The strong start continued into June, with the team winning their first two games of the month to extend their winning streak to six games. That streak was snapped on June 6, with a one point loss to Dallas. A five game winning streak followed the loss, but it was broken by the Storm losing their last two games of June to finish the month 7–3. The team won four of their five games in July, with their only loss coming away against Phoenix. They took a 16–5 record into the Olympic break.

The first game back from the Olympic break was the inaugural Commissioner's Cup Final, which the Storm won. The game was a dominating 79-57 victory over the Connecticut Sun. Breanna Stewart was named MVP of the game. However, she would not play in their next two games, which the Storm would both lose. The team turned their streak around with two wins, but they were followed by two losses, to give the Storm a 2–5 record in August. September proved to be a better month as the team won three of their four games to finish the season with a 21–11 record.

Their record earned them the fourth seed in the 2021 WNBA Playoffs, which gave them a bye into the Second Round. The Storm hosted the Phoenix Mercury and lost 80–85 in overtime; Stewart did not play in the game.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2021 WNBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	School/Team/Country
1	11	Aaliyah Wilson		Texas A&M
2	18	Kiana Williams		Stanford
2	23	N'dea Jones		Texas A&M
3	35	Natalie Kucowski		Lafayette

Trades and roster changes

Date	Details
February 1, 2021	Re-Signed G Epiphanny Prince^[3]
February 8, 2021	F Crystal Langhorne retired^[4]
	Signed F Candice Dupree^[5]
February 10, 2021	Acquired the No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA draft and two picks in the 2022 WNBA draft from the New York Liberty in exchange for F Natasha Howard via sign-and-trade^[6]
	Acquired F Mikiah Herbert Harrigan from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2022 WNBA draft
	Acquired F Katie Lou Samuelson and a second-round pick in the 2022 WNBA draft from the Dallas Wings in exchange for the No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA draft
	Acquired the rights to F Stephanie Talbot from the New York Liberty in exchange for G Sami Whitcomb via sign-and-trade
February 11, 2021	Signed F Stephanie Talbot^[7] ^[8]
March 1, 2021	Re-Signed G Sue Bird^[9]
March 15, 2021	F Morgan Tuck retired^[10]
April 15, 2021	Acquired G Kennedy Burke from the Indiana Fever in exchange for the rights to F Aaliyah Wilson^[11]
April 17, 2021	Signed G Kiana Williams
May 28, 2021	Set F Mikiah Herbert Harrigan as inactive^[12] ^[13]
June 28, 2021	Waived G Kiana Williams^[14]
July 1, 2021	Signed F Cierra Burdick to 7-day contract^[15]
July 2, 2021	Waived F Candice Dupree^[16]
July 5, 2021	Signed F N'dea Jones to 7-day contract^[17]
July 23, 2021	Signed G Kiana Williams to 7-Day Contract^[18]
August 18, 2021	Signed F Cierra Burdick to a Rest-Of-Season Contract^[19]
August 23, 2021	Signed F Karlie Samuelson to a Rest-Of-Season Contract^[20]

Game log

Preseason

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 8| @ Phoenix| W 88–71| Ezi Magbegor (17)| Ezi Magbegor (7)| Jordin Canada (6)| Phoenix Suns Arena
1,985| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| May 10| Phoenix| W 103–93| K. Williams
Dupree (12)| Stephanie Talbot (5)| Sue Bird (7)| Angel of the Winds Arena| 2–0

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 15| Las Vegas| W 97–83| Breanna Stewart (28)| Breanna Stewart (13)| Sue Bird (8)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,031| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| May 18| Las Vegas| L 80–96| Breanna Stewart (26)| Ezi Magbegor (13)| Sue Bird (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,001| 1–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| May 20| @ Minnesota| W 90–78| Jewell Loyd (23)| Breanna Stewart (7)| Sue Bird (8)| Target Center
1,934| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| May 22| @ Dallas| W 100–97 (OT)| Breanna Stewart (36)| Breanna Stewart (11)| Jewell Loyd (6)| College Park Center
1,491| 3–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| May 25| Connecticut| W 87–90 (OT)| Sue Bird (21)| Breanna Stewart (12)| Jewell Loyd (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,011| 4–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6| May 28| Minnesota| W 82–72| Breanna Stewart (15)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Bird
Loyd
Prince (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,332| 5–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 7| June 1| Indiana| W 88–73| Breanna Stewart (28)| Mercedes Russell (11)| Sue Bird (8)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,215| 6–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| June 4| Dallas| W 105-102 (OT)| Jewell Loyd (25)| Russell
Stewart (9)| Sue Bird (10)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,467| 7–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9| June 6| Dallas| L 67–68| Jewell Loyd (25)| Bird
Stewart (7)| Sue Bird (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,930| 7–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10| June 9| @ Atlanta| W 95–71| Jewell Loyd (18)| Breanna Stewart (9)| Sue Bird (6)| Gateway Center Arena
1,014| 8–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11| June 11| @ Atlanta| W 86–75| Jewell Loyd (20)| Breanna Stewart (13)| Sue Bird (7)| Gateway Center Arena
1,405| 9–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12| June 13| @ Connecticut| W 89–66| Breanna Stewart (22)| Breanna Stewart (9)| Breanna Stewart (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,248| 10–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13| June 15| @ Indiana| W 87–70| Breanna Stewart (20)| Breanna Stewart (12)| Jordin Canada (6)| Indiana Farmers Coliseum
No Fans| 11–2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| June 17| @ Indiana| W 79–69| Breanna Stewart (21)| Breanna Stewart (15)| Sue Bird (7)| Indiana Farmers Coliseum
No Fans| 12–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 15| June 22| Washington| L 83–87| Jewell Loyd (23)| Bird
Stewart (8)| Jewell Loyd (9)| Angel of the Winds Arena
2,495| 12–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 16| June 27| @ Las Vegas| L 92–95 (OT)| Breanna Stewart (35)| Russell
Stewart (11)| Sue Bird (6)| Michelob Ultra Arena
3,766| 12–4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 17| July 2| Atlanta| W 91–88| Sue Bird (15)| Mercedes Russell (7)| Sue Bird (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
3,011| 13–4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 18| July 4| @ Los Angeles| W 84–74| Breanna Stewart (21)| Ezi Magbegor (9)| Jordin Canada (5)| Los Angeles Convention Center
716| 14–4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 19| July 7| Los Angeles| W 71–62| Breanna Stewart (27)| Breanna Stewart (11)| Sue Bird (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
2,730| 15–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 20| July 9| @ Phoenix| L 77–85| Jewell Loyd (16)| Breanna Stewart (13)| Sue Bird (5)| Phoenix Suns Arena
7,554| 15–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 21| July 11| Phoenix| W 82–75| Epiphanny Prince (15)| Mercedes Russell (10)| Jewell Loyd (6)| Angel of the Winds Arena
5,110| 16–5|- style="background:#cfc;"| CC| August 12| vs. Connecticut| W 79–57| Breanna Stewart (17)| Mercedes Russell (7)| Sue Bird (5)| Footprint Center
5,006| N/A|- style="background:#fcc;"| 22| August 15| @ Chicago| L 85–87| Jewell Loyd (26)| Mercedes Russell (11)| Mercedes Russell (7)| Wintrust Arena
6,231| 16–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23| August 18| @ New York| L 79–83| Jewell Loyd (35)| Stephanie Talbot (5)| Jordin Canada (6)| Barclays Center
2,103| 16–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24| August 20| @ New York| W 99–83| Jewell Loyd (29)| Breanna Stewart (14)| Sue Bird (6)| Barclays Center
3,889| 17–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25| August 22| @ Washington| W 85–78| Breanna Stewart (20)| Breanna Stewart (12)| Bird
Talbot (4)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,114| 18–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 26| August 24| @ Minnesota| L 70–76| Breanna Stewart (18)| Breanna Stewart (16)| Sue Bird (7)| Target Center
3,634| 18–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 27| August 27| Chicago| L 69–73| Breanna Stewart (18)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Sue Bird (4)| Angel of the Winds Arena
3,650| 18–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 28| August 29| Chicago| L 75–107| Breanna Stewart (19)| Breanna Stewart (6)| Sue Bird (7)| Angel of the Winds Arena
3,750| 18–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29| September 2| New York| W 85–75| Breanna Stewart (33)| Breanna Stewart (8)| Breanna Stewart (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
3,592| 19–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 30| September 7| Washington| W 105–71| Jewell Loyd (20)| Loyd
Magbegor (6)| Sue Bird (7)| Angel of the Winds Arena
2,390| 20–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 31| September 12| @ Los Angeles| L 53–81| Epiphanny Prince (12)| Ezi Magbegor (6)| Jewell Loyd (3)| Staples Center
4,181| 20–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32| September 17| Phoenix| W 94–85| Jewell Loyd (37)| Mercedes Russell (8)| Sue Bird (7)| Angel of the Winds Arena
6,000| 21–11

Playoffs

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| September 26| Phoenix| 80–85 (OT)| Katie Lou Samuelson (18)| Mercedes Russell (12)| Bird
Loyd (5)| Angel of the Winds Arena
5,375| 0–1

Statistics

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Breanna Stewart	28	28	33.4	43.9	33.3	84.7	9.5	2.7	1.2	1.8	20.3
Jewell Loyd	31	31	31.0	42.0	37.6	88.9	4.0	3.8	1.5	0.2	17.9
Sue Bird	30	30	27.7	43.1	41.9	83.3	2.6	5.3	0.9	0.1	10.0
Mercedes Russell	30	28	24.7	61.7	0.0	76.6	6.1	1.6	0.9	0.4	7.3
Katie Lou Samuelson	27	24	21.0	45.6	35.1	73.1	3.5	1.7	0.7	0.3	7.0
Ezi Magbegor	30	3	15.2	50.9	55.6	84.6	3.8	0.8	0.6	0.9	6.7
Epiphanny Prince	29	2	14.3	43.9	50.0	89.7	1.6	1.7	0.7	0.2	5.8
Jordin Canada	29	3	18.7	38.9	21.4	84.1	2.3	3.0	0.7	0.1	5.8
Stephanie Talbot	30	9	17.9	48.3	41.5	75.0	2.9	1.6	0.5	0.4	5.7
Karlie Samuelson	3	0	10.7	30.0	12.5	100	0.3	0.7	0.0	0.0	3.0
Kennedy Burke	23	0	7.7	44.6	33.3	62.5	0.8	0.3	0.3	0.1	2.9
Cierra Burdick	7	0	5.0	25.0	0.0	50.0	1.7	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.4

Awards and honors

Recipient	Award	Date awarded	Ref.
Breanna Stewart	Western Conference Player of the Week	May 24	^[21]
	Western Conference Player of the Month - May	June 2	^[22]
Jewell Loyd	Western Conference Player of the Week	June 7	^[23]
Breanna Stewart		June 14	^[24]
		June 21	^[25]
Sue Bird	WNBA All-Star Selection	June 30	^[26]
Jewell Loyd
Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart	WNBA All-Defensive Second Team	September 26	^[27]
Jewell Loyd	All-WNBA First Team	October 15	^[28]
Breanna Stewart

External links

• Official website of the Seattle Storm

Notes and References

1. News: Seattle Storm announce 2021 regular season schedule . 13 April 2021 . Seattle Storm . 13 April 2021.
2. News: Dan Hughes announces retirement from the WNBA . 30 May 2021 . Seattle Storm . 30 May 2021.
3. News: Seattle Storm Re-Signs Epiphanny Prince . 13 February 2021 . Seattle Storm . 1 February 2021.
4. News: Crystal Langhorne retires, joins Storm front office as Director of Community Engagement, Force4Change . 13 February 2021 . Seattle Storm . 8 February 2021.
5. News: Seattle Storm Signs Seven-Time All-Star Candice Dupree . 13 February 2021 . Seattle Storm . 8 February 2021.
6. News: Storm acquires Katie Lou Samuelson, Mikiah "Kiki" Herbert Harrigan; Rights to Stephanie Talbot and two 2022 draft picks . 13 February 2021 . Seattle Storm . 10 February 2021.
7. News: Storm signs Stephanie Talbot, Tamera Young . 14 May 2021 . Seattle Storm . February 11, 2021.
8. News: SEATTLE SETS ROSTER FOR SATURDAY'S HOME OPENER . 14 May 2021 . Seattle Storm . May 13, 2021.
9. News: Storm re-signs four-time WNBA Champion Sue Bird . 2 March 2021 . Seattle Storm . 1 March 2021.
10. News: Morgan Tuck announces retirement . 15 March 2021 . Seattle Storm . 15 March 2021.
11. News: Seattle Storm acquire Kennedy Burke in draft-day trade . 16 April 2021 . Seattle Storm . 15 April 2021.
12. News: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan to miss 2021 season due to pregnancy . 29 May 2021 . Seattle Storm . 27 May 2021.
13. Web site: Transactions . WNBA.com . 29 May 2021.
14. News: Storm waives Kiana Williams . 28 June 2021 . Seattle Storm . 28 June 2021.
15. News: Storm signs forward Cierra Burdick to 7-day contract . 2 July 2021 . Seattle Storm . 1 July 2021.
16. News: Seattle Storm waives Candice Dupree . 2 July 2021 . Seattle Storm . 2 July 2021.
17. News: Storm signs forward N'dea Jones to 7-day contract . 5 July 2021 . Seattle Storm . 5 July 2021.
18. News: Storm signs guard Kiana Williams to 7-day contract . 9 August 2021 . Seattle Storm . 23 July 2021.
19. News: Storm signs forward Cierra Burdick for remainder of season. 21 August 2021 . Seattle Storm . 18 August 2021.
20. News: Storm adds Karlie Samuelson for remainder of season. 30 August 2021 . Seattle Storm . 23 August 2021.
21. Web site: Season 25 – Week 1: Players Of The Week. wnba.com. WNBA. May 24, 2021. May 24, 2021.
22. News: Stewart named Kia WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month . June 3, 2021 . Seattle Storm . June 2, 2021.
23. Web site: Jonquel Jones and Jewell Loyd Named Week 3 Players Of The Week. wnba.com. WNBA. June 7, 2021. June 7, 2021.
24. Web site: Breanna Stewart and Tina Charles Named Week 4 Players Of The Week. wnba.com. WNBA. June 14, 2021. June 14, 2021.
25. Web site: Courtney Vandersloot, Breanna Stewart Named Week 5 Players Of Week. wnba.com. WNBA. June 21, 2021. June 21, 2021.
26. Web site: Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 on July 14. wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2020. July 1, 2021.
27. Web site: Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles named WNBA Defensive Player of Year for 4th time in career. ESPN. Mechelle. Voepel. September 26, 2021. September 26, 2021.
28. Web site: The 2021 All-WNBA First & Second Team Announced. wnba.com. WNBA. October 15, 2021. October 15, 2021.