Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Seattle Storm featured one of the WNBA’s most balanced and efficient teams in 2018, with Breanna Stewart leading the offense through elite scoring and rebounding while Jewell Loyd added consistent perimeter production. Sue Bird orchestrated the attack as the primary playmaker, and Natasha Howard anchored the defense with rebounding and shot-blocking. Strong shooting, unselfish ball movement, and disciplined defense defined the Storm’s style throughout 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
Breanna Stewart Starter/Star (1.1) 31.6 High (1.2) 21.8 8.4 2.5 2.8 93.46 Everything in Seattle’s offense flowed through Stewart, whose blend of post scoring, face-up shooting and weak-side rim protection made her the league’s toughest matchup. Independent season coverage consistently described her as the centerpiece of a title defense that still looked dominant before her Achilles injury overseas abruptly ended the campaign. (WNBA) WNBA MVP (2018); All-WNBA First Team (2018); WNBA All-Star (2018); WNBA Champion (2018); WNBA Finals MVP (2018)
Jewell Loyd Starter/Star (1.1) 29.7 High (1.2) 15.5 4.6 3.7 1.4 66.95 Loyd settled naturally into the secondary creator role, attacking closeouts and providing difficult shot-making from the perimeter. Analysts noted that her willingness to play on or off the ball gave Seattle another reliable scoring option whenever defenses loaded up on Stewart. (WNBA) WNBA All-Star (2018); WNBA Champion (2018)
Natasha Howard Starter/Star (1.1) 25.6 Medium (1.1) 13.2 6.4 1.0 3.3 57.04 Howard evolved from complementary forward into one of the WNBA’s premier defenders, covering multiple positions while finishing efficiently around the rim. Writers regularly highlighted her activity in passing lanes and shot-blocking instincts as essential pieces of Seattle’s elite defense. (WNBA) WNBA Most Improved Player (2018); WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018); WNBA Champion (2018)
Sue Bird Starter/Star (1.1) 26.6 Medium (1.1) 10.1 1.7 7.1 1.2 48.16 Bird remained the organizer of Seattle’s attack, manipulating pace and consistently creating clean looks without dominating possessions. Her leadership and decision-making continued to define one of the league’s most efficient half-court offenses. (WNBA) WNBA All-Star (2018); Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award (2018); WNBA Champion (2018)
Alysha Clark Starter/Star (1.1) 26.2 Medium (1.1) 7.4 3.5 1.9 1.1 33.40 Clark embraced the classic glue-player role, defending top wings, moving intelligently without the ball and spacing the floor. Independent coverage repeatedly praised her willingness to handle difficult defensive assignments while rarely needing plays called for her. WNBA Champion (2018)
Jordin Canada Key Contributor (1.05) 16.5 Medium (1.1) 5.7 1.5 3.3 0.9 26.10 Canada’s speed changed games off the bench, giving Seattle another playmaker capable of pressuring the ball defensively. Coaches increasingly trusted her with meaningful minutes as her confidence running the offense continued to grow. WNBA Champion (2018)
Crystal Langhorne Key Contributor (1.05) 13.9 Low (1.0) 4.6 3.0 0.3 0.5 17.64 Langhorne’s value came through screening, interior positioning and veteran decision-making rather than offensive volume. Coverage throughout the season often pointed to her experience stabilizing Seattle’s frontcourt rotation. WNBA Champion (2018)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Bench (1.0) 13.4 Low (1.0) 5.1 1.5 0.8 0.1 15.00 Used primarily as a floor-spacing specialist, Mosqueda-Lewis stretched opposing defenses with quick-release shooting. Even when touches were limited, her perimeter reputation helped preserve driving lanes for Seattle’s primary scorers. WNBA Champion (2018)
Courtney Paris Bench (1.0) 10.6 Low (1.0) 2.1 3.9 0.6 0.5 14.20 Paris filled a dependable reserve center role built around rebounding, physical screens and efficient interior play. Independent reporting consistently framed her as experienced depth who strengthened Seattle’s second unit. WNBA Champion (2018)
Sami Whitcomb Bench (1.0) 8.5 Low (1.0) 2.9 0.9 0.5 0.6 9.80 Whitcomb’s role centered on instant shooting off the bench, where her off-ball movement demanded defensive attention despite modest usage. Her spacing remained valuable within Seattle’s deep rotation. WNBA Champion (2018)
Noelle Quinn Bench (1.0) 9.1 Low (1.0) 1.5 0.9 0.7 0.2 6.60 Quinn saw limited minutes but continued serving as an experienced backcourt presence. Contemporary reporting largely focused on her leadership and professionalism whenever Seattle needed steady reserve guard play. WNBA Champion (2018)
Mercedes Russell Bench (1.0) 4.6 Low (1.0) 1.6 1.4 0.1 0.1 6.40 Russell remained a developmental frontcourt option, supplying size and rebounding in short stretches. Independent previews viewed her as a young reserve with room to earn a larger role over time. WNBA Champion (2018)
Teana Muldrow Bench (1.0) 2.0 Low (1.0) 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.60 Limited independent reporting was available because her opportunities were brief. Available coverage identified her as developmental depth whose contributions largely came in practice and spot appearances. None
Team Totals — — — 90.5 43.4 23.5 13.7 395.31 Seattle combined elite star power, versatile defense and exceptional ball movement to finish with the WNBA’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) 37.1 High (1.2) 24.6 6.9 2.5 2.2 95.83 Stewart remained Seattle’s offensive focal point throughout the postseason, creating advantages from the elbow, in transition and as a pick-and-pop threat. Even as defenses loaded up on her, postseason coverage consistently highlighted how she carried the scoring burden while still anchoring the Storm defensively. (WNBA) WNBA All-Star (2019)
Natasha Howard Starter/Star (1.1) 31.5 High (1.2) 15.8 8.3 1.5 2.4 73.39 Howard’s playoff run reflected the leap she made into an elite two-way forward. Her rim protection, switching ability and relentless work on the glass kept Seattle competitive, with analysts frequently pointing to her emergence as the foundation of the team’s postseason push. (WNBA) WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2019); All-WNBA First Team (2019); WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2019)
Jewell Loyd Starter/Star (1.1) 31.3 High (1.2) 12.1 5.0 3.3 1.2 56.02 Loyd embraced the role of secondary creator, attacking off the dribble whenever opponents crowded Stewart. Although her shooting fluctuated, independent postseason coverage noted that Seattle relied on her ability to generate offense late in possessions. (WNBA) WNBA All-Star (2019)
Sue Bird Starter/Star (1.1) 28.4 Medium (1.1) 10.0 2.8 6.9 1.1 50.58 Bird controlled Seattle’s tempo and spacing, leaning on experience to keep the offense organized. Writers covering the playoffs continued to praise her court vision and leadership, particularly with the Storm navigating a difficult title defense. (WNBA) None
Alysha Clark Starter/Star (1.1) 35.0 Medium (1.1) 8.5 5.9 2.6 0.8 42.35 Clark quietly handled many of the toughest defensive assignments while filling the gaps offensively with timely cuts and corner shooting. Her postseason impact was often described as the type that stabilized lineups even when the box score stayed modest. WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2019)
Jordin Canada Key Contributor (1.05) 13.6 Medium (1.1) 6.1 1.1 2.3 0.4 22.64 Canada’s speed changed the pace whenever she entered, giving Seattle another downhill ball-handler while applying full-court defensive pressure. Her development under postseason pressure drew praise after a breakout sophomore campaign. (WNBA) WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2019)
Sami Whitcomb Bench (1.0) 12.5 Low (1.0) 6.2 1.2 1.2 0.9 19.00 Whitcomb supplied instant offense off the bench through constant movement and perimeter shooting. Even in limited minutes, she forced defenses to stay attached well beyond the three-point line, opening driving lanes for teammates. None
Crystal Langhorne Bench (1.0) 10.4 Low (1.0) 3.8 2.9 0.5 0.2 14.80 Langhorne filled a veteran reserve role built around physical screens, rebounding position and dependable interior rotations. Independent coverage consistently valued her experience more than her offensive production. None
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Bench (1.0) 4.3 Low (1.0) 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.2 3.20 Opportunities were limited, but Seattle continued to view Mosqueda-Lewis as a floor-spacing option capable of stretching defenses whenever called upon. Contemporary playoff reporting on her role was limited. None
Courtney Paris Bench (1.0) 3.8 Low (1.0) 0.0 2.0 0.5 0.0 5.00 Paris was used in brief frontcourt stretches to add rebounding and physicality. Independent postseason discussion surrounding her appearances was limited because of her small workload. None
Noelle Quinn Bench (1.0) 4.0 Low (1.0) 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.00 Quinn appeared only sparingly during the postseason. Limited independent playoff coverage was available, with her role primarily centered on veteran depth and locker-room leadership. None
Mercedes Russell Bench (1.0) 4.0 Low (1.0) 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.00 Russell’s postseason minutes were brief, serving mainly as extra size in the frontcourt. Coverage from the period focused more on her long-term development than on-game production. None
Team Totals — — — 87.8 36.8 21.3 11.4 385.83 Seattle’s playoff run leaned heavily on Breanna Stewart’s star power and Natasha Howard’s two-way dominance, while a veteran core kept the Storm competitive before their title defense ended in the second round. None