Long before she was even the head coach, Noelle Quinn brought Seattle a championship. How, you ask? Well, after learning under Dan Hughes for a bit, Quinn got promoted to associate head coach. And when Hughes had to step aside during the 2020 season, Quinn took the reins and led the Storm straight to a championship in 2020. 

Following that incredible moment, the Storm ownership and management knew they had something special in Quinn. In 2021, they made it official and named her the head coach. Now, sure, the ride hasn’t been all smooth sailing….there’ve been ups, downs, and everything in between. But through it all, the franchise trusted her. Why? Because she brings competitive fire, a crazy good basketball IQ, and a calm confidence you just can’t teach. As she gears up for her fifth year at the helm, let’s get to know the woman behind the playbook.

Where was Noelle Quinn born? What’s her nationality?

Noelle Quinn was born on January 3, 1985, in sunny Los Angeles, California, right here in the United States. She’s got American nationality through and through. Her mom, Golden Quinn, is a teacher. Her dad’s name is Eugene Jackson, although not much else is publicly known about him.

Quinn’s first basketball memories go way back, like to the kindergarten playground. Growing up in LA, she was obviously a Lakers fan (who wasn’t?). But it was the arrival of the WNBA and the Los Angeles Sparks that flipped the switch for her. That was the moment she felt basketball was more than just a game. Her mom swears Quinn was already dribbling a basketball by the time she was three. But in Quinn’s own memory, it’s her and a teacher taking on all the neighborhood kids on the court. That’s where it all began.

“It’s like destiny,” Quinn said. “It was something that I truly picked up on my own and gravitated toward.” Years later, the game still has that same grip on her. But the heart of her journey has always been her mom. After all, she is a fan, too. Not just any fan, she has been a Sparks season ticket holder since day one of the WNBA. According to Canada Basketball, she’s been showing up since the league’s inaugural season.

Naturally, Storm’s coach’s biggest inspiration and cheerleader has been her mother. “My mom watches everything,” Quinn said. “She watches high school basketball, college basketball, NBA, WNBA, the Olympics. She’s constantly watching basketball and she knows what she’s talking about. She’s really a fan of the game, but she’s actually become a student of the game.”

A mom who not only loves the game but understands it and helped raise a future coach.

Which high school did Noelle Quinn attend?

Noelle Quinn went to Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California, graduating in 2003. She was the standout athlete. We’re talking four California state championships, three regional championships, and three division titles. 

Adding more to the list, she was named a WBCA All-American and played in the 2003 WBCA High School All-America Game. Her alma mater meant a lot to her. Even after turning pro, she never forgot where she came from.

In 2017, while still playing in W, Quinn went back to Bishop Montgomery, not as a student, but as a special coach. She helped out in the athletic department and even served as co-head coach for the varsity girls’ team. She worked alongside Camille Buckley and alumna Tiffany Hicks, showing love to the place that shaped her.

The same place that helped her land at UCLA. Quinn played college ball there and graduated in 2007. That same year, she was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the WNBA draft. In the 12-year run, Quinn played for five teams: the Minnesota Lynx, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Washington Mystics, the Phoenix Mercury, and the Seattle Storm. She wrapped up her playing days with Seattle, and that’s where her coaching story truly took off.

She started as an assistant coach, and she proved her mettle. Memorial Day Weekend in 2021 was a big day for her. In just 72 hours, she went from associate head coach to head coach. She gave her first press conference, and the very next day, led the Storm to an 88-73 win over the Indiana Fever. Since then, she’s taken charge, fearlessly leading the team, speaking up when needed, and always vowing to bounce back stronger after setbacks.

But you know what’s wild? Quinn didn’t always see herself as a coach. It was her teammates, friends, and mentors who did. She learned from the best—coaches like Sandy Brondello, Brian Agler, and Jenny Boucek. She paid attention to every detail: how they talked, how they prepared, how they treated their players. 

And through it all, her faith kept her grounded.

What is Noelle Quinn’s ethnicity and religion?

Noelle Quinn is African-American. As for her religion, while she hasn’t publicly shared specific details, her actions say a lot. She’s been deeply involved in faith-based programs at her alma mater, Bishop Montgomery, and believes in leading with love and integrity. 

In her own words, “Leading and loving as Christ did, the goal is to plant seeds of knowledge, water them daily with our actions, and cultivate an environment dedicated to making sure that everyone is seen and heard.” Even when she officially became the head coach, she began it all with a simple, powerful statement, “I thank God.”

That faith has clearly been her anchor through every chapter. Although her resume is already stacked, Noelle Quinn is still chasing her first title as a head coach. Let’s see when that championship finally comes home.