Remember the final game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where W’s top stars faced tough competition from French players? Despite a win, the star of the game was Gabby Williams. It was her attempt to equal the score when the USA was leading by three points that could have forced the game into overtime. It would have happened if she hadn’t stepped inside the 3-point line unaware. None refrained from lauding her after the game though. One name belonged to Seattle Storm.

Her former team, impressed by her caliber, made attempts to bring her back. And they did succeed, with Williams sharing her excitement about reuniting with her teammates. However, while Storm’s interest continues to reflect, not everything is going as Gabby might have planned.

W’s rising star finds her future tethered to the Seattle Storm as the team has designated her as their core player. “We’re thrilled to have Gabby back with the Storm. Gabby is a dynamic player who brings tremendous versatility,” shared head coach Noelle Quinn.

She’s being offered a one-year supermax deal worth $249,244, while also being barred from exploring free agency. For a player as versatile as Williams, the implications are far-reaching. This is because the core designation is a double-edged sword.

While it guarantees Williams the league’s top salary, it also limits her autonomy by restricting her ability to sign with other teams freely. She had made it clear to teams that her decision on where to sign would come down to whether they used the core designation on her. ESPN reports that Gabby and representatives weren’t exactly surprised by the move and are working with the franchise to determine her next steps, as per sources. 

If Williams wishes to opt out, the Storm could trade her. But if she stays, she could be a cornerstone for the team, given her impressive run this past season. But for the forward, this development might feel like a deja vu.

Gabby Williams was limited more than once

Williams’ tale in the WNBA began when she was drafted in 2018 by the Chicago Sky. Representing her national team and playing for French club right alongside this in the following years, the star forward encountered troubles due to the W’s prioritization rule. It requires players to focus largely on the league or be fined (initially)/ suspended upon arriving late to the training camps. Williams was one of the firsts to face the struggles of that.

She has since been vocal about her disagreement on the same, after making the full-season suspended list by Chicago in 2021 likely due to national team commitments. She believes the prioritization rules limits players from grabbing lucrative opportunities. But despite the distaste, she hasn’t stayed away from the league.

The star forward has made most of both the worlds, committing to French Olympic team, first half of the 2024 season and considering she was not under any contract in the W before the start of the campaign, returned for the remaining. It would turn out to be her best yet, with a career-high average of 10.3 points and 4 rebounds across 12 games. But months in, she finds herself in a tough situation once again, though the numbers look better now.