Addressing reporters for the first time since an external investigation into accusations of harassment and bullying by the Seattle Storm's coaching staff concluded without finding any violations, Storm head coach Noelle Quinn said Tuesday that the process was "a learning experience."
"I believe that the organization did the right thing," Quinn said. "Throughout this entire process, the communication level was tremendously high. I felt supported in a lot of ways and I know my staff felt supported as well. With anything like this, it is important to take the right steps and our organization did that."
Seattle general manager Talisa Rhea pointed to the team's offseason as validation of the way the investigation was handled and of Quinn's role going forward.
"First, we let the process play out and that was very important to us and the integrity of that process," Rhea said. "Second, we've been locked in with Noelle this entire offseason and it's been very clear through our free agency conversations that players do want to be here.
"They believe in what we're building here in Seattle. They want to play with Noelle. The group that we have here is totally bought in to that. So we're very confident in Noelle and what she's able to do with this group this year."
That group won't include longtime Storm guard Jewell Loyd, a six-time All-Star who filed the complaint against the coaching staff, sources told ESPN's Alexa Philippou. Loyd, who won a pair of championships during a decade in Seattle, subsequently requested a trade and was sent to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team deal that netted the Storm the No. 2 pick in April's WNBA draft from the Los Angeles Sparks.
"We've had a strong relationship with Jewell and being able to be transparent and open in our communication," Rhea said. "As last season went on and into this offseason, we wanted to do what we felt like was best for our organization and Jewell."
At the same time, Rhea acknowledged what Loyd accomplished in Seattle. Loyd became the face of the franchise after Sue Bird's retirement and Breanna Stewart's departure in free agency following the 2022 season, then played a key role in recruiting veteran All-Stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike to sign with the Storm last year.
"Jewell meant a lot to this organization," Rhea said. "She built a lot with us here. Noelle and I have been part of a couple of championships with Jewell, so this is not to take away anything that Jewell did during her time here with Seattle. I'm very appreciative for that. We will continue to be. We're excited with how the roster has moved forward, excited for this year and what we were able to do with that trade."
After trading Loyd, the Storm prioritized re-signing two starters from last year's team that went 25-15 before being swept by Las Vegas in the opening round of the playoffs. Seattle used the core designation on forward Gabby Williams and brought back both Williams and Ogwumike, who was an unrestricted free agent, on one-year deals.
The biggest addition for the Storm so far in free agency was also a familiar face: forward Alysha Clark, who started her WNBA career in Seattle and was part of championship teams in 2018 (as a teammate of Quinn's) and 2020 (with Quinn as an assistant coach) before going on to win a third WNBA title in 2023 with Las Vegas.
"From our first week, we prioritized Alysha," Quinn said. "Obviously a multichampionship player in this league. Has been in Seattle a lot of her career. We know what she can do on the defensive end, but AC can also shoot the hell out of the basketball too. Obviously last season, we hung our hat on defense, and a lot of times we were defending, but we couldn't put the ball in the hoop.
"Hopefully this season, we can have some balance and some synergy in that. I think that AC provides that -- not only on the basketball court but in the locker room, the leadership, the intangibles that we need to continue to create and maintain this culture. AC provides that at a high level and she has a lot of basketball left within her."
Looking ahead, the Storm's most important newcomer probably will come through the draft. Rhea described the No. 2 pick as a selection "that helps you win now and in the future."
After a turbulent offseason, Quinn said she was excited for the 2025 season and the opportunity to make a statement on the court.
"Moving forward," she said, "the fact that we have built a tremendous roster -- players who want to come and play for me, my staff, want to be a part of the organization -- it will show the fans everything that they need to know about myself and what we're building around Seattle. This is a top-notch organization, an organization that stands for excellence and integrity. I lead in that way and I want to continue to exemplify that as well."