Seattle Storm was revelling in the victory after delivering a thunderous 83-77 performance against the Dallas Wings on the home court as Gabby Williams scored 18 points for the roster and Nneka Ogwumike added 14 points. But the celebrations did not last long. And while everything looks perfect on paper, not all is well in Caitlin Clark’s ex-teammate, Erica Wheeler’s new team.

Troubles began early on June 04, 2025, when Chinese player, Li Yueru’s representatives formally requested for the player’s trade from the roster mid-season. The 28-year-old centre athlete is undergoing her sophomore run in the WNBA and has averaged 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in the 2025 regular season so far.

Women’s basketball reporter, Khristina Williams broke the news of the trade request on X (former Twitter). This trade request was made by the athlete due to a limited playing time. The athlete was previously associated with Los Angeles Sparks, where she played for over 14.4 minutes per game across 38 games. But her current situation in Storm’s roster prompted the decision amidst the ongoing games.

Moreover, the decision also prompted something more grave. According to the official account of Underdog WNBA, the matter has reached the league, who will be investigating the the coaching staff of the franchise. The account took to X and shared, “Storm coaching staff set to be investigated by WNBA and league security, per Khristina. ”

The Seattle Storm’s coaching staff, head coach Noelle Quinn and assistants Pokey Chatman, Ebony Hoffman, and Perry Huang, faced renewed scrutiny after whispers of player discontent resurfaced. This isn’t the first time the Storm’s coaching has been under the microscope, last November, the organization launched an independent investigation into claims of harassment and bullying. While the staff was ultimately cleared, the outcome didn’t sit right with everyone, especially Jewell Loyd, who soon requested a trade and later landed in Las Vegas.

Moreover, the breaking news of the investigation into Seattle Storm’s staff was enough to send the fans into a frenzy. Amidst the ensuing chaos, college hoops reporter Callie Finn pointed out a harsh reality. She took to X and compared Li Yueru’s situation with that of Jewell Loyd. The athlete had requested for a trade from the Storm after witnessing no viable action against the coaching staff despite harassment and bullying accusations.

“A note: Jewell Loyd requested a trade after the Storm announced an external investigation into accusations of harassment and bullying by the coaching found no violations. The WNBA was not involved. Now it reportedly is,” Finn wrote on social media.

While the guard joined the Las Vegas Aces early this year, Finn hinted that other players have also faced issues with the coaching staff. While no action was taken against the staff back then, can the league’s interference change the course of the fame for Storm? That remains to be seen.

Seattle Storms the court with a dramatic victory against Dallas Wings

Seattle Storm is the most balanced team in the league so far, with 4-4 equal number of wins and losses in the regular season, thanks to their recent victory against the Dallas Wings. While the team was struggling to find its rhythm in the first half, they clipped any remaining hopes of a victory in the Wings roster as they snatched a whopping 83-77 win.

In the words of Wings HC Chris Koclanes, “They just came out in the second half with a different energy about them. They were extremely efficient in that second half.” With a home court advantage at the disposal, the Seattle stormed on the hardwood in the third quarter as Skylar Diggins prepared the team with a fast-break layup. But despite a flagrant 1 foul, her free throw helped Storm retain possession as they cruised through the game.

Moreover, Erica Wheeler’s three-pointer was instrumental in providing the team with its first-ever lead in the third quarter. They finished with 24 points in the quarter and pushed Wings at 17 points. And as the opponents tried to find a way out of the mess, Wheeler scored a total of 11 points in the second half as Nneka Ogwumike contributed 10 points during the last two quarters.

Together the two players propelled the Storm into a dramatic victory. While opponents DiJonai Carrington, Myisha Hines-Allen, Maddy Siegrist, and Arike Ogunbowale put on a tough front, the Storm athletes successfully pulled the victory with some of the most remarkable performances so far.

With a promising position in the regular season, it will be exciting to witness Storm’s fate this year. Especially after everything that went down with player Li Yueru today. And as WNBA and the league security investigates into the coaching matters in the coming days, all we can do is hope that the league continues to maintain the integrity of all the athletes involved.