Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Seattle Storm remained anchored by an experienced core in 2011, with Sue Bird directing the offense as the primary playmaker while Swin Cash and Lauren Jackson led the scoring and frontcourt production. Camille Little added efficient complementary scoring and rebounding, and the team’s balanced attack, strong shooting, and disciplined defense remained defining strengths. Injuries, however, reduced the consistency of the lineup over the course of the season.

HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight

PLAYER NAME ROLE TIER MPG USAGE TIER PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) IMPACT INDEX NOTES AWARDS
Swin Cash Starter/Star [1.1] 33.2 High [1.2] 13.3 6.9 2.4 1.5 63.6 Functioned as Seattle’s primary two-way forward while Lauren Jackson missed much of the season, taking tougher defensive assignments and carrying more frontcourt creation than usual. Contemporary coverage regularly highlighted her leadership and physical play as key reasons the Storm stayed among the West’s contenders despite major injuries. (heraldnet.com) WNBA All-Star (2011); All-Star Game MVP (2011); All-Defensive Second Team (2011)
Sue Bird Starter/Star [1.1] 33.0 High [1.2] 14.7 2.9 4.9 1.6 63.6 Seattle’s offense revolved around Bird’s control of tempo, pick-and-roll decision-making and perimeter shooting. Reporters noted that Brian Agler increasingly leaned on her shot creation while injuries reshaped the roster, and she consistently stabilized late-game possessions. (heraldnet.com) All-WNBA Second Team (2011); WNBA All-Star (2011); Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award (2011)
Lauren Jackson Starter/Star [1.1] 24.8 High [1.2] 12.2 4.9 0.3 1.8 50.7 Injuries limited Jackson to 13 games, but when available she still served as Seattle’s interior focal point on both ends. Coverage emphasized how much the Storm missed her spacing, rim protection and ability to change defensive coverages. (Wikipedia) None
Camille Smith Starter/Star [1.1] 26.9 Medium [1.1] 9.6 5.2 1.6 2.1 44.8 Filled an understated but important frontcourt role, defending multiple positions and finishing efficiently around the basket. Coaches trusted her to absorb extra responsibility as Seattle adjusted to Jackson’s absence for much of the year. (heraldnet.com) None
Tanisha Wright Starter/Star [1.1] 28.9 Medium [1.1] 10.1 3.2 2.9 1.2 42.1 Wright remained the Storm’s perimeter defensive stopper while expanding her offensive responsibility. Analysts consistently praised her ability to pressure opposing guards without sacrificing offensive balance, making her one of the league’s premier two-way guards. (heraldnet.com) All-Defensive First Team (2011)
Katie Smith Key Contributor [1.05] 25.1 Medium [1.1] 7.5 2.3 2.0 0.8 29.1 Used primarily as an experienced reserve, Smith supplied spacing, secondary ball movement and veteran composure. Her shooting threat helped keep Seattle’s second unit organized even when her scoring fluctuated. Western Conference Player of the Week (2011)
Le’coe Willingham Key Contributor [1.05] 19.1 Low [1.0] 6.4 4.2 1.1 0.7 26.0 Brought energy, offensive rebounding and physical defense off the bench, frequently filling frontcourt gaps created by injuries. Her willingness to handle low-usage, high-effort minutes earned consistent coaching trust. None
Ashley Robinson Key Contributor [1.05] 17.1 Low [1.0] 3.8 3.9 0.7 1.6 21.0 Robinson’s value came from rim protection and interior defense rather than scoring. She was regularly deployed to stabilize the paint and absorb difficult defensive assignments during an injury-hit campaign. None
Ewelina Kobryn Bench [1.0] 6.8 Low [1.0] 1.4 1.2 0.3 0.6 7.0 Saw limited reserve minutes, providing size and occasional frontcourt depth. Independent season coverage of her role was limited beyond brief rotation mentions. None
Belinda Snell Bench [1.0] 6.4 Low [1.0] 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.2 6.4 Worked mainly as a situational perimeter shooter and reserve wing. Contemporary independent reporting discussing her season-specific role was limited. None
Krystal Thomas Bench [1.0] 3.1 Low [1.0] 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.6 3.2 Appeared briefly as developmental frontcourt depth. Limited contemporary independent coverage was available beyond roster transactions and game notes. None
Allie Quigley Bench [1.0] 2.0 Low [1.0] 0.6 0.6 0.1 0.2 3.0 Quigley’s opportunities were scarce before later flourishing elsewhere in her career. Independent reporting on her 2011 Seattle role was very limited because of her minimal playing time. None
Ify Ibekwe Bench [1.0] 2.7 Low [1.0] 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 Appeared in only a handful of games as emergency depth. Little independent season-specific journalism exists regarding her brief stint with Seattle. None
TEAM TOTALS — — — 81.9 37.6 16.7 12.9 — Seattle finished 21-13, overcoming significant injuries through experienced guard play, defensive discipline and veteran depth before reaching the Western Conference Semifinals. —

HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight

PLAYER NAME ROLE TIER MPG USAGE TIER PPG RPG APG STK (SPG + BPG) IMPACT INDEX NOTES AWARDS
Tanisha Wright Starter/Star [1.1] 28.0 High [1.2] 18.7 4.0 2.3 2.0 71.8 Seattle leaned on Wright as its most aggressive two-way guard during the Phoenix series. Her confident pull-up shooting and relentless perimeter defense stood out, and she led the Storm in scoring in both Game 1 and Game 2 before finishing the series with another strong all-around effort. (Basketball Reference) None
Sue Bird Starter/Star [1.1] 33.7 High [1.2] 15.7 4.0 2.7 1.0 61.2 Bird controlled Seattle’s offense despite constant defensive pressure from Phoenix. She closed the decisive Game 3 with 22 points, repeatedly creating quality looks from deep and in pick-and-roll action even as the Mercury tightened their coverage late in the series. None
Lauren Jackson Starter/Star [1.1] 27.3 High [1.2] 15.0 3.7 0.7 2.3 57.3 Returning from injury, Jackson immediately resumed her role as Seattle’s interior focal point. Although Phoenix contested nearly every touch, her ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim forced tactical adjustments throughout the semifinal matchup. None
Swin Cash Starter/Star [1.1] 32.0 Medium [1.1] 7.0 8.7 2.0 1.7 46.1 Cash’s offensive numbers dipped, yet she remained Seattle’s emotional leader and primary rebounder. Her physical defense and willingness to battle inside kept the Storm competitive against Phoenix’s veteran frontcourt throughout the three-game series. None
Camille Smith Starter/Star [1.1] 23.3 Medium [1.1] 12.7 6.0 2.3 0.7 52.5 Smith quietly filled an important complementary role, screening, finishing around the basket and defending bigger lineups. Her steady interior play gave Seattle reliable frontcourt minutes while Jackson worked back into rhythm after missing much of the regular season. None
Katie Smith Key Contributor [1.05] 25.3 Low [1.0] 5.3 3.0 2.3 0.7 23.5 Smith’s shot deserted her in the series, but Brian Agler continued trusting her veteran decision-making and floor spacing. Even with limited scoring, she remained part of late-game lineups because of her experience and defensive awareness. (Wikipedia) None
Le’coe Willingham Bench [1.0] 13.0 Low [1.0] 2.0 3.3 0.7 0.3 12.6 Willingham supplied energy minutes off the bench, crashing the offensive glass and bringing physicality whenever Seattle needed another frontcourt body. Contemporary independent playoff coverage discussing her individual role was limited. None
Ashley Robinson Bench [1.0] 12.3 Low [1.0] 2.0 3.0 0.0 1.0 12.0 Robinson’s minutes were almost entirely defensive, with Seattle using her size to challenge shots around the basket. Independent reporting focused more on the team’s rotation than her individual contributions during the series. None
Ewelina Kobryn Bench [1.0] 4.0 Low [1.0] 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 8.0 Kobryn appeared only briefly as reserve depth. Contemporary independent coverage of her playoff contribution was limited beyond rotation notes. None
Allie Quigley Bench [1.0] 4.0 Low [1.0] 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Quigley saw only brief reserve action before later emerging elsewhere in the league. Independent playoff reporting on her role during this series was very limited. None
Belinda Snell Bench [1.0] 3.0 Low [1.0] 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Snell was used sparingly as backcourt depth. Limited contemporary independent playoff coverage was available regarding her role in Seattle’s semifinal rotation. None
TEAM TOTALS — — — 81.4 36.7 14.0 9.7 — Seattle pushed Phoenix to a deciding Game 3 before bowing out in the Western Conference Semifinals. Wright’s scoring surge and Bird’s late-game shot creation nearly extended the defending champions’ postseason despite injuries that had reshaped the roster throughout the year. Lost WNBA Western Conference Semifinals (2011)