Seattle Storm Contracts: Examining the WNBA Team`s Salary Cap Situation
The Seattle Storm is a professional women`s basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2000, the team has won four WNBA championships in its 21-year history. The team currently boasts some of the most talented players in the league, including Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, and Jewell Loyd, who have all signed long-term contracts with the team.
As with any professional sports team, the Seattle Storm must navigate the salary cap when signing new players and renewing existing contracts. The WNBA salary cap for the 2021 season is $1.3 million, which means that each team has a maximum amount they can spend on player salaries.
The Seattle Storm currently has a few key players on long-term contracts. Breanna Stewart, who was the league MVP in 2018, signed a multi-year extension with the team in 2019. Sue Bird, who has been with the team since 2002, signed a multi-year contract extension in 2020. Jewell Loyd, who was the team`s leading scorer in 2020, also signed a multi-year extension with the team in 2020.
While having talented players on long-term contracts is certainly a positive thing, it does present challenges for the team`s salary cap situation. With these three players alone, the team has committed a significant amount of its salary cap space. However, the team has been able to balance these contracts with deals for other players, such as Natasha Howard and Alysha Clark, who have since moved on to other teams.
The team also has a few players on shorter-term contracts, including Ezi Magbegor and Mercedes Russell. These players are still developing and have yet to reach their full potential, but they have shown promise and could be key contributors in the future.
When it comes to the salary cap, it`s important for the Seattle Storm to balance its long-term contracts with its short-term contracts. The team must also consider the future, as it will need to sign new players and renew existing contracts in the years to come.
Overall, the Seattle Storm has done a good job of navigating the salary cap while still maintaining a talented roster. With some of the best players in the league on the team, the Storm will look to continue its success in the 2021 season and beyond.