Storm signal French star and Olympic standout Gabby Williams in huge WNBA transfer

The Seattle Storm simply signed one of the vital highly-coveted free brokers in girls’s basketball — French star Gabby Williams — to a rest-of-season contract with the workforce.

Williams was a member of the Storm in 2022 and 2023, after spending her first three WNBA seasons with the Sky, however she hasn’t performed within the WNBA this season. She was a standout on the Paris Olympics, named to the All-Star 5 and serving to lead France to a silver medal. She’s largely thought-about among the best guard in basketball, and was named to the WNBA All-Defensive workforce in 2022.

“We’re thrilled to have Gabby again with the Storm,” stated head coach Noelle Quinn, per a Storm press launch. “Gabby is a dynamic participant who brings large versatility. She’s a two-way participant that may guard a number of positions and has a powerful offensive sport; given her familiarity with our system, we all know she will be able to have an instantaneous influence. Gabby’s Olympic efficiency showcased her world-class expertise, and we’re excited to have her be part of us as we push for the playoffs.”

Williams expressed her pleasure for reuniting with the group, per the press launch.

“I’m so excited to be becoming a member of the Storm for the remainder of the season,” stated Williams. “I really feel greater than able to lastly return to Seattle. I’ve missed the group, my teammates and the followers a lot. I completely can’t wait to return again and end the season sturdy.”

All through her 5 12 months profession within the WNBA, Williams has averaged 7.1 factors, 2.3 assists, and three.9 rebounds. Enjoying for France within the Paris Olympics, Williams averaged 15.5 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and a pair of.8 steals in six video games, headlined by a 19-point outing within the Gold Medal sport.

The Storm have the fifth-best report within the WNBA at 17-10, however have two straight video games to under .500 groups because the Olympic break. On Friday, they fell to the Dream 83-81, and on Sunday, they suffered a 92-75 loss by the hands of the fever.

Provided that Williams is already acquainted with the system, she ought to present an prompt enhance on each ends of the ground as Seattle seems to be to make a playoff push.

To this point this season, the Storm have been lead by Jewell Loyd (20.4 factors per sport), Nneka Ogwumike (17.2 factors), Skylar Diggins-Smith (13.8 factors), and Ezi Magebegor (12.6 factors). They’ve had the fourth-best protection and been the fourth highest-scoring offense within the league.