WNBA Free Agency: Seattle Storm makes major move with Gabby Williams amid potential $249,244 deal

The Seattle Storm designated forward Gabby Williams as a core player on Tuesday, ensuring she will not become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

With the core designation, the Storm can extend Williams a maximum qualifying offer worth $249,244 for one year. WNBA teams have until Monday to issue core player designations, and players and teams can begin negotiations the following day.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, Seattle and Williams have been working closely together to determine her next steps.

"Williams and her representatives were not surprised by Seattle's decision to use the core designation on her and have been working closely with the Storm on determining her next steps," Pelton wrote.

Gabby Williams appeared in 12 games for the Storm last season. Although her international commitments limited her availability in the WNBA, she posted career highs in points (10.3), rebounds (4.0), assists (3.7) and steals (1.7) per game.

She helped Seattle reach the playoffs, but the team was swept by the Las Vegas Aces in the first round.

Seattle Storm's Gabby Williams in a game against the Las Vegas Aces (Image Source: Getty)

The 5-foot-11 forward was selected fourth overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. In college, Williams won back-to-back national championships in 2015 and 2016 with the UConn Huskies. In 2022, she was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team while playing for the Storm.

This is the first time the 28-year-old Williams has been given a core designation. Under the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), players can be designated as core players twice or for a single contract lasting at least two seasons. The current CBA is set to expire after this season.

Each WNBA team has one core player designation per offseason. Other players who received core designations this year include Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces, Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty. Players under the designation remain eligible to be traded.

Gabby Williams named 2024 European Player of the Year

In addition to being a key piece for the Storm last season, Gabby Williams has excelled in international competition. On Jan. 4, FIBA Women’s EuroBasket recognized her international play by naming her the 2024 European Player of the Year.

In the gold medal game of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Williams tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals for France. Despite her efforts, France fell to the United States 67-66 as the Americans claimed their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Williams was named Best Defensive Player and selected to the FIBA Women’s Olympics All-Star Five after averaging 15.5 points and 2.8 steals per game for the French national team.