The Seattle Storm management did not waste time making moves. As the heartbreak of their Round 1 loss against the Las Vegas Aces was just turning from a wound to a scar, Storm delivered another crushing blow. The Storm axed head coach Noelle Quinn, cutting short her 2026 contract and closing a five-year run that fell far short of expectations. Quinn bled green and gold as she directly transferred to the Storm bench after playing for the team from 2016-18. Just as Storm fans were reeling from the shake-up, Nneka Ogwumike delivered a bright spot with a major honor to lift spirits.

“On behalf of our organization, I would like to thank Noelle for her time with the Storm,” Storm general manager Talisa Rhea said in a statement. “Her commitment to the ongoing success of our organization and to furthering the development of our players was second to none. She put us in a position to win at the highest levels of the game, and for that, we are grateful.” Storm’s 2025 season was an underperformance according to many, but one thing remained constant: Nneka Ogwumike’s leadership and composure. 

Ogwumike has been honoured with a record fourth Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. She previously won the award in three consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2021. The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award honors the WNBA player who best embodies ethical play, fair competition, and integrity each season, a tribute to Perrot’s legacy. Perrot was a fiery 5’5″ point guard who helped launch the WNBA’s first dynasty, winning titles in 1997 and 1998 with relentless defense, leadership, and clutch play. 

Unfortunately, Perrot was diagnosed with lung cancer in February 1999 and passed away on August 19, 1999, inspiring the Comets’ emotional three‑peat later that year. Perrot’s legacy echoes in 2025 with Ogwumike. Ogwumike received 18 votes out of 72 while Connecticut Sun rookie guard Saniya Rivers finished in second with 11 votes. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton received 7 votes each. 

Ogwumike’s character has been a model for the players across the league. As the WNBPA president, she is aggressive in the negotiation room, but on the court, she is a gentle human. “Her approach to her everyday life, I think, is such a great example for us all, the way that she leads, the way that she communicates, the way that she constantly puts others first. … And to be doing it in a Storm uniform is special for me.”Departing coach Noelle Quinn has said regarding Ogwumike. Quinn and Ogwumike worked together for two seasons, and Quinn held a positive 97-89 record after 5 seasons. Let’s examine why the Storm fired Noelle Quinn. 

Noelle Quinn’s Job Needed A Deep Postseason Run

Noel Quinn’s tenure ended with a last-second 74-73 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs. Something that has been the story for Storm in Noelle’s tenure.  Quinn’s five-year run never broke past Round 2, two straight semifinal exits, a 2023 miss, and no deep push despite shifting casts and contexts. In 2024, they loaded up the guns by adding Nneka Ogwumike, Jewel Loyd, and Skylar Diggins to elevate them to contenders, but that never happened. They once again lost in the first round despite being spoiled with riches. 

This season was already a step back from last. The Storm finished the regular season as the WNBA’s No. 7 seed with a 23-21 record, as compared to a 25-15 regular season record a year ago. They had a manageable task against Aces, even with the momentum on Aces’ side. On paper, the two teams stacked very close together, something we saw in the series. Quinn especially looks worse after the Indiana Fever pulled one over the Aces on the road. Stephanie White pulled off a coaching masterclass and stopped A’ja Wilson, something Quinn couldn’t. 

The Storm were notably inconsistent in 2025. At one moment, they were beating No.1 seed  Minnesota Lynx 94-84 at the next, they were losing to bottom feeders Connecticut Sun 97-81. This was already a problem for the Storm, considering their current squad, which should match the best teams. The only thing that could have saved Quinn for another year was a deep postseason run.