Seattle Storm Reload With Impressive 2026 WNBA Draft Class

New head coach Sonia Raman brings in young talent to rebuild the Storm after key free agent losses.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:36pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into overlapping angular shapes in shades of green, white, and yellow, representing the colors of the Seattle Storm.The Storm's young draft class brings an infusion of talent and energy as the franchise looks to rebuild for the future.Seattle Today

The Seattle Storm had a busy 2026 WNBA Draft, selecting several promising young players to rebuild their roster after losing veteran stars Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Gabby Williams in free agency. The team drafted Spanish center Awa Fam with the 3rd overall pick, Duke guard Taina Mair at 14th overall, and made a trade to acquire LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson, who was selected 8th overall. The Storm also added Michigan State forward Grace VanSlooten with the 39th pick. With a mix of young talent and experienced free agent signings, the Storm are positioning themselves for a fresh start under new head coach Sonia Raman.

Why it matters

The Seattle Storm have been one of the WNBA's premier franchises for years, winning 4 championships since 2010. However, the team is now in transition after losing several key players in free agency. This draft class represents an opportunity for the Storm to reload with young talent and build towards the future under new leadership.

The details

With the 3rd overall pick, the Storm selected 19-year-old Spanish center Awa Fam, who is currently averaging 7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game for Valencia Basket Club. The team then took Duke guard Taina Mair at 14th overall, a player who led the ACC in assists and was 3rd in steals last season. In a trade, the Storm acquired LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson, who was selected 8th overall. The Storm rounded out their draft by taking Michigan State forward Grace VanSlooten with the 39th pick.

  • The 2026 WNBA Draft took place last Monday.
  • The WNBA preseason is set to begin in one week.

The players

Awa Fam

A 19-year-old center from Spain, Fam was selected 3rd overall by the Seattle Storm. She is currently averaging 7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game for Valencia Basket Club.

Taina Mair

The Duke guard was selected 14th overall by the Storm. She led the ACC in assists and was 3rd in steals last season, averaging 11.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.

Flau'jae Johnson

The LSU guard was selected 8th overall and then traded to the Storm. She is yet to sign her rookie scale contract but is expected to be on the Storm's roster this season.

Grace VanSlooten

The Michigan State forward was the Storm's final pick at 39th overall. She averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game for the Spartans last season.

Sonia Raman

The new head coach of the Seattle Storm, taking over after the team lost several key free agents in the offseason.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Storm will have a better picture of their final roster as training camp gets underway in the coming week.

The takeaway

The Seattle Storm have used the 2026 WNBA Draft to infuse their roster with young, promising talent as they transition to a new era under head coach Sonia Raman. This draft class, combined with their free agent signings, gives the Storm a solid foundation to rebuild and compete in the years ahead.