The Seattle Storm WNBA franchise is under investigation for the alleged mistreatment of players, according to a report released by the Chicago-Sun Times on Friday.
Led by head coach Noelle Quinn, the Storm’s staff was allegedly harassing and bullying players during games and practices because of the team’s on-court performance.
While it’s not clear at this time whether the allegations stem from malpractice at the hands of Quinn or other members of the coaching staff, an investigation into the matter has been ongoing for at least two weeks, according to the report.
Expectations were sky-high for the Storm ahead of their 2024 season given the surfeit of talent the franchise had brought in during the previous offseason. Among others, that included former MVP Nneka Ogwumike and six-time All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) drives into Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes (15) during the first half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas.AP
And while the Storm (25-15) played well enough to earn a postseason bid, the franchise was knocked out of the tournament by the 2023 champion Las Vegas Aces in the first round.
They were swept in the three-game series, losing the two contests by a combined 18 points.
2024 was Quinn’s fourth year behind the Storm bench, and her coaching staff was rounded out with assistants Perry Huang, Ebony Hoffman and Pokey Chatman.
Quinn (45), pictured here battling for a rebound with Minnesota Lynx star Maya Moore (23) during a game in 2012, re-joined the Storm behind the bench following the culmination of her playing career.AP
Huang has been a member of the coaching staff since 2021. Hoffman, since 2022.
Chatman came aboard in 2022 before adding the title of associate general manager in 2023.
Head coach Noelle Quinn of the Seattle Storm gestures in the first quarter of Game One of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs first round against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 22, 2024.Getty Images
Quinn, who won a WNBA championship as a player with the Storm in 2018, signed a multi-year contract extension in Sept. 2023.
Very few details have been released about the ongoing investigation, though a league source confirmed that the investigation was sparked by multiple players’ experiences, according to the Sun-Times.
Neither the Storm, the WNBA, or the WNBA players association responded to the paper’s request for comment.
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