Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Seattle Storm relied on Breanna Stewart’s immediate all-around impact during the 2016 season, with the rookie leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and defensive production. Sue Bird remained the primary playmaker, while Jewell Loyd supplied additional perimeter scoring and Alysha Clark contributed efficient complementary offense. Strong ball movement and balanced scoring were positives, but inconsistent defense and rebounding limited the team’s overall success.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | Starter/Star (1.1) | 34.7 | High (1.2) | 18.3 | 9.3 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 89.50 | Stewart immediately became Seattle’s offensive centerpiece rather than easing into a supporting role. National coverage consistently praised how comfortable she looked creating from the perimeter, protecting the rim and handling late-game responsibilities, while her versatility transformed the Storm into a playoff team much sooner than expected. (WNBA) | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2016), All-WNBA Second Team (2016), WNBA All-Rookie Team (2016) |
| Jewell Loyd | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.6 | High (1.2) | 16.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 65.66 | Loyd shifted naturally into a high-volume scoring role alongside Stewart, attacking downhill far more aggressively than during her rookie year. Writers regularly pointed to the chemistry between Seattle’s two recent No. 1 picks as the foundation of the franchise’s rebuild. (WNBA) | All-WNBA Second Team (2016) |
| Sue Bird | Starter/Star (1.1) | 31.6 | High (1.2) | 12.8 | 2.9 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 59.24 | Bird remained the engine of Seattle’s attack, balancing veteran leadership with elite shot creation. Her passing controlled the offense, and league observers highlighted her career-best three-point shooting while she again finished atop the WNBA in assists. (heraldnet.com) | All-WNBA First Team (2016), WNBA Peak Performer – Assists (2016) |
| Crystal Langhorne | Starter/Star (1.1) | 25.5 | High (1.2) | 9.5 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 45.14 | Langhorne quietly anchored the interior with efficient finishing and dependable screening. Although the spotlight shifted toward Seattle’s younger stars, independent coverage continued to describe her as the steady veteran who kept the frontcourt balanced on both ends. (WNBA) | None |
| Alysha Clark | Starter/Star (1.1) | 27.6 | Medium (1.1) | 9.0 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 37.99 | Clark embraced the difficult defensive assignments every night while spacing the floor offensively. Coaches and analysts consistently valued her ability to guard multiple positions without disrupting the offensive flow, making her one of Seattle’s most trusted role players. | None |
| Ramu Tokashiki | Key Contributor (1.05) | 13.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.3 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 18.06 | Tokashiki’s role became more specialized, supplying athletic rim running and interior energy off the bench. Coverage noted that her mobility remained an asset even as Seattle’s frontcourt rotation became deeper following Stewart’s arrival. | None |
| Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis | Bench (1.0) | 12.3 | Low (1.0) | 5.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 14.20 | Mosqueda-Lewis was used primarily as a floor spacer, with Seattle encouraging her to hunt catch-and-shoot opportunities instead of forcing offense. Her long-term shooting upside remained a frequent topic in independent season analysis. | None |
| Jenna O’Hea | Bench (1.0) | 11.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 11.40 | O’Hea filled a complementary wing role by moving the ball quickly and defending multiple perimeter spots. Contemporary independent coverage was limited, though available reporting consistently described her as dependable rotational depth. (Seattle Storm) | None |
| Krystal Thomas | Bench (1.0) | 9.3 | Low (1.0) | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 9.40 | Thomas contributed physical interior minutes whenever Seattle needed extra rebounding or rim protection. Independent reporting on her season was limited, with most discussion centering on her value as situational frontcourt depth. | None |
| Markeisha Gatling | Bench (1.0) | 5.8 | Low (1.0) | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 7.20 | Gatling appeared in a limited reserve role, supplying size around the basket in short stretches. Contemporary independent coverage was scarce, but she was generally viewed as emergency frontcourt depth during the season. | None |
| Monica Wright | Bench (1.0) | 6.1 | Low (1.0) | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 6.00 | Wright battled for minutes in a crowded backcourt and was asked to provide defensive intensity whenever called upon. Independent season coverage was limited beyond noting her veteran experience in a reserve role. | None |
| Noelle Quinn | Bench (1.0) | 13.9 | Low (1.0) | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 11.60 | Quinn’s contributions came through versatility rather than scoring, filling multiple wing assignments as needed. Independent reporting was limited, but she remained a respected veteran presence within Seattle’s rotation. | None |
| Abby Bishop | Bench (1.0) | 5.2 | Low (1.0) | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 4.40 | Bishop saw only brief opportunities in the rotation. Contemporary independent coverage was limited, with most mentions focusing on her ability to stretch the floor if called into larger minutes. | None |
| Blake Dietrick | Bench (1.0) | 3.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.00 | Dietrick appeared only briefly during the season. Independent reporting was minimal, reflecting her limited role before spending most of the year outside Seattle’s regular rotation. | None |
| Totals | 87.0 | 32.8 | 21.4 | 12.1 | 382.19 | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2016): 1, All-WNBA First Team (2016): 1, All-WNBA Second Team (2016): 2, WNBA All-Rookie Team (2016): 1, WNBA Peak Performer – Assists (2016): 1 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | Starter/Star (1.1) | 38.0 | High (1.2) | 19.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 81.31 | Seattle leaned on Stewart as its primary frontcourt creator in her playoff debut, and she responded with an aggressive first half that helped build an early lead. Associated Press coverage noted she scored 15 points before halftime, but Atlanta’s fourth-quarter surge limited her influence late as the Storm exited the postseason. (WNBA) | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2016), All-WNBA Second Team (2016), WNBA All-Rookie Team (2016) |
| Jewell Loyd | Starter/Star (1.1) | 33.0 | High (1.2) | 24.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 81.31 | Loyd attacked confidently from the opening tip and looked comfortable carrying stretches of Seattle’s offense, especially when Atlanta tightened its coverage on Stewart. Game reporting highlighted her 24-point playoff debut as evidence that the Storm’s young backcourt was ready for bigger postseason responsibilities despite the loss. (WNBA) | All-WNBA Second Team (2016) |
| Sue Bird | Starter/Star (1.1) | 34.0 | High (1.2) | 12.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 71.81 | Bird orchestrated nearly every important possession, pushing tempo and creating quality looks while also disrupting passing lanes defensively. Even in defeat, her veteran leadership kept Seattle organized until Atlanta’s decisive fourth-quarter run swung the game. (WNBA) | All-WNBA First Team (2016), WNBA Peak Performer – Assists (2016) |
| Crystal Langhorne | Starter/Star (1.1) | 21.0 | High (1.2) | 7.0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 44.35 | Langhorne quietly supplied physical interior play, battling for rebounds and providing reliable screening while Seattle’s perimeter players carried most of the scoring load. Her steady work inside helped the Storm control the paint for long stretches before Atlanta seized momentum late. (WNBA) | None |
| Alysha Clark | Starter/Star (1.1) | 28.0 | Medium (1.1) | 8.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 31.46 | Clark filled her familiar two-way role, defending multiple positions while moving the ball without forcing offense. Although her shooting never found a rhythm, she remained one of Seattle’s most dependable perimeter defenders throughout the elimination game. | None |
| Ramu Tokashiki | Key Contributor (1.05) | 20.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 21.00 | Tokashiki brought energy off the bench and attacked the offensive glass, giving Seattle athletic minutes in the frontcourt. Independent playoff coverage focused more on the starters, but her activity helped maintain the Storm’s interior rotation. | None |
| Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis | Bench (1.0) | 15.0 | Low (1.0) | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16.00 | Mosqueda-Lewis was deployed primarily to stretch Atlanta’s defense with perimeter shooting. Her offensive opportunities came almost entirely within the flow of the offense rather than through designed actions. | None |
| Noelle Quinn | Bench (1.0) | 11.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.00 | Quinn provided experienced depth in limited minutes, helping stabilize defensive matchups whenever Seattle rotated its wings. Contemporary playoff coverage devoted little attention to her individual performance, reflecting her supporting role. | None |
| Totals | 85.0 | 34.0 | 18.0 | 6.0 | 359.24 | WNBA Rookie of the Year (2016): 1, All-WNBA First Team (2016): 1, All-WNBA Second Team (2016): 2, WNBA All-Rookie Team (2016): 1, WNBA Peak Performer – Assists (2016): 1 |