Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Seattle Storm built their 2017 season around Breanna Stewart’s all-around production, with Jewell Loyd providing complementary scoring and Sue Bird directing the offense as the primary playmaker. Alysha Clark contributed efficient two-way play, while Natasha Howard strengthened the frontcourt with rebounding and interior defense. Balanced scoring, strong ball movement, and solid defensive activity were key strengths, though inconsistent rebounding occasionally limited the team’s effectiveness.

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) 32.9 High (1.2) 19.9 8.7 2.7 2.8 90.02 Functioned as Seattle’s primary offensive hub while anchoring the frontcourt defensively. Opposing coaches regularly built game plans around limiting her versatility, yet she still thrived as a transition finisher, floor spacer and weak-side rim protector, helping transform the Storm into the league’s most complete regular-season team. (WNBA) WNBA MVP (2018); All-WNBA First Team (2018); WNBA Champion (2018); WNBA Finals MVP (2018); WNBA All-Star (2018)
Jewell Loyd Starter/Star (1.1) 31.1 High (1.2) 17.7 3.2 3.4 1.7 68.64 Worked primarily as Seattle’s downhill scoring guard, stretching defenses with confident perimeter shooting while attacking closeouts. Season coverage often highlighted how her aggressive shot creation eased pressure on Breanna Stewart and gave the Storm another reliable late-clock option. (WNBA) WNBA Champion (2018); WNBA All-Star (2018)
Crystal Langhorne Starter/Star (1.1) 28.4 Medium (1.1) 12.4 6.1 1.5 1.0 50.82 Filled an understated interior role built on screening, efficient finishing and positional defense. Writers frequently pointed to her veteran composure and willingness to handle physical frontcourt assignments that allowed Seattle’s stars greater offensive freedom. (WNBA) WNBA Champion (2018)
Sue Bird Starter/Star (1.1) 30.0 Medium (1.1) 10.6 2.0 6.6 1.3 49.61 Orchestrated Seattle’s offense with elite pace control rather than high-volume scoring. Analysts consistently praised her decision-making, leadership and ability to create efficient looks for teammates while keeping the offense organized in critical moments. (WNBA) WNBA All-Star (2018); Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award (2018); WNBA Champion (2018)
Alysha Clark Starter/Star (1.1) 28.3 Medium (1.1) 8.2 4.2 1.6 0.8 35.82 Served as Seattle’s low-maintenance two-way wing, routinely defending multiple positions while spacing the floor and making quick connective plays. Her versatility and willingness to embrace difficult defensive matchups were recurring themes throughout the season. WNBA Champion (2018)
Noelle Quinn Key Contributor (1.05) 15.8 Low (1.0) 2.7 1.6 2.8 0.6 16.17 Operated as a veteran reserve guard whose value extended beyond the box score. Contemporary coverage emphasized her calming influence, secondary playmaking and readiness whenever Seattle needed experienced backcourt minutes. WNBA Champion (2018)
Sami Whitcomb Bench (1.0) 12.2 Low (1.0) 4.5 1.7 1.0 0.7 15.80 Came off the bench hunting catch-and-shoot opportunities, giving Seattle instant perimeter spacing. Coaches trusted her to maintain offensive tempo with energetic movement and quick-trigger three-point shooting. WNBA Champion (2018)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Bench (1.0) 11.1 Low (1.0) 4.6 1.2 0.5 0.3 13.20 Played a specialist wing role centered on floor spacing. Although her minutes fluctuated, her shooting gravity remained useful within Seattle’s deep rotation whenever extra spacing was required. WNBA Champion (2018)
Ramu Tokashiki Bench (1.0) 12.5 Low (1.0) 3.2 1.6 0.6 0.6 12.00 Limited independent season-specific reporting was available. Available coverage described her as a skilled frontcourt reserve whose mobility and touch around the basket added depth whenever she entered the rotation. None
Carolyn Swords Bench (1.0) 8.7 Low (1.0) 2.6 1.5 0.3 0.4 9.60 Filled a situational backup center role, supplying size, rebounding and physical interior minutes. Her responsibilities were largely matchup-dependent on a veteran championship roster. WNBA Champion (2018)
Alexis Peterson Bench (1.0) 7.1 Low (1.0) 2.1 1.2 0.8 0.3 8.80 Saw limited opportunities as a developing reserve guard. Independent coverage from the season was sparse, with most discussion focusing on her speed and long-term developmental upside rather than immediate production. WNBA Champion (2018)
Lanay Montgomery Bench (1.0) 4.0 Low (1.0) 0.9 0.7 0.0 0.7 4.60 Appeared only briefly during the season. Limited contemporary reporting was available, with most mentions describing her as developmental frontcourt depth providing insurance behind Seattle’s established rotation. WNBA Champion (2018)
Team Totals — — — 89.4 33.7 21.8 11.2 374.06 Seattle’s balanced rotation combined elite star power with experienced role players, producing the league’s best regular-season record before capturing the 2018 WNBA championship. WNBA Champion (2018)

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) 36.0 High (1.2) 23.0 8.0 1.0 3.0 92.93 Seattle ran much of its half-court offense through Stewart despite Washington throwing extra attention at her. Her ability to stretch the floor, finish through contact and protect the rim kept the Storm in control, and postgame analysis highlighted how her versatility forced the Mystics into difficult defensive choices throughout Game 1. (WNBA) WNBA MVP (2018); All-WNBA First Team (2018); WNBA Champion (2018); WNBA Finals MVP (2018); WNBA All-Star (2018)
Jewell Loyd Starter/Star (1.1) 31.0 High (1.2) 17.0 5.0 1.0 3.0 68.11 Operating as Seattle’s attacking perimeter scorer, Loyd repeatedly punished Washington when the defense tilted toward Stewart. Coverage after the game praised her confidence in transition and her willingness to attack the paint instead of settling when the jumper wasn’t consistently falling. (WNBA) WNBA Champion (2018); WNBA All-Star (2018)
Sue Bird Starter/Star (1.1) 31.0 Medium (1.1) 10.0 2.0 5.0 0.0 41.14 Bird dictated tempo from the opening possession, calmly organizing Seattle’s offense and finding teammates in advantageous spots. Even without a high scoring night, analysts pointed to her control of pace and decision-making as one of the biggest reasons the Storm seized the series lead. (WNBA) WNBA All-Star (2018); Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award (2018); WNBA Champion (2018)
Alysha Clark Starter/Star (1.1) 26.0 Medium (1.1) 6.0 5.0 0.0 2.0 31.94 Clark embraced her familiar glue-player role, defending multiple positions while making timely cuts and efficient finishes. Independent coverage regularly credited her discipline and willingness to handle difficult defensive assignments without disrupting Seattle’s offensive spacing. (WNBA) WNBA Champion (2018)
Crystal Langhorne Starter/Star (1.1) 22.0 Medium (1.1) 2.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 12.10 Langhorne’s workload centered on physical screens, rebounding position and interior defense rather than scoring. Her veteran presence allowed Seattle’s stars to play aggressively knowing the frontcourt rotations remained organized. WNBA Champion (2018)
Noelle Quinn Key Contributor (1.05) 12.0 Low (1.0) 2.0 3.0 3.0 0.0 16.80 Quinn gave Seattle composed minutes off the bench as a secondary ball-handler, keeping possessions flowing without forcing offense. Contemporary reporting often noted the trust the coaching staff had in her experience during playoff situations. WNBA Champion (2018)
Sami Whitcomb Bench 11.0 Low 3.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 14.00 Whitcomb continued to fill a shooting-specialist role despite an off shooting night. Her movement away from the ball still demanded defensive attention, helping preserve driving lanes for Seattle’s primary creators. WNBA Champion (2018)
Carolyn Swords Bench 15.0 Low 4.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 10.00 Used as a situational reserve center, Swords supplied size around the basket and physicality against Washington’s interior players. Independent game coverage focused more on her matchup utility than offensive production. WNBA Champion (2018)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Bench 10.0 Low 2.0 3.0 1.0 0.0 12.00 Mosqueda-Lewis entered as a spacing option on the wing, giving Seattle another perimeter threat. Although opportunities were limited, her shooting reputation continued to influence defensive positioning. WNBA Champion (2018)
Ramu Tokashiki Bench 7.0 Low 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 Limited contemporary independent reporting was available for this appearance. Available postseason coverage described her as frontcourt depth whose primary value came from providing size and energy when called upon. WNBA Champion (2018)
Team Totals — — — 69.0 29.0 14.0 10.0 298.02 Seattle’s balanced attack, disciplined ball movement and versatile defense produced a convincing Game 1 victory, setting the tone for a three-game sweep in the 2018 WNBA Finals. WNBA Champion (2018)