One of the biggest bombshells of this WNBA offseason was Jewell Loyd packing her bags and leaving the Seattle Storm. But in return for letting go of their franchise’s face, the Storm did something pretty major. They snagged the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft. For the first time since 2016, they’ve got their hands on one of the top two selections. That’s not just a silver lining, that’s pure gold. And with the league heating up, Noelle Quinn and her crew better not fumble this bag.

For months, all the buzz pointed to Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles donning the green and yellow. The fit felt almost too perfect. But Miles shocked everyone by staying in school for a fifth year and jumping ship to TCU. So now the million-dollar question is: what’s next for Seattle? Who’s their Plan B? 

Well, it might be time to go international. All eyes are on French basketball star Dominique Malonga. Even ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo, who never holds back when it comes to talking about W, is all in on Malonga. “Malonga is a talent,” she said. “To see a 6’6 player with the versatility that she has and the ability to come off flair screens and hit 3s… the way she can move in space, she’s an incredible talent… she can go as high as No. 2.”

And Malonga’s resume backs up every bit of that hype. 

While hoopin’ for ASVEL Feminin in France this past season, she averaged 15.4 points and 10.3 rebounds in 22 games. Dominant in the paint, lethal in transition, and she’s got a jumper. Seattle already led the league in blocks last year with 5.2 per game. Now imagine Malonga and Ezi Magbegor anchoring that defense together. Terrifying, right? “She’s an unbelievably intriguing player because she has size, athleticism and range,” said former Mystics GM Mike Thibault. “She’s got a wide range of skills, which makes her pretty intriguing.” 

Not to forget, the Storm aren’t just looking to fill a spot. They’re looking for a future franchise player. Someone who can carry the torch Loyd just dropped. Malonga might just be that unicorn. She’s got the length, the athleticism, the guard-like movement at 6’6″, and she’s got a one-handed dunk in her bag. A dunk in the W! Sign us up. Now, just in case the Storm decides to switch gears, there’s also chatter about Sonia Citron. An efficient scorer, a lockdown defender. She’s been consistent all year for Notre Dame, averaging 14.2 points, 5.4 boards, and 1.9 steals per game. 

Sure, the Irish didn’t go far in the tourney, but Citron’s stock is still strong. She’s one of the most well-rounded guards in the class and could absolutely be a safe and impactful choice. So yes, Olivia Miles is off the board. But Seattle is still sitting in a dream scenario with a real chance to scoop up not one, but two game-changers in this year’s draft. And speaking of teams with not one, but two first-rounders…

Sun’s high-risk rebuild: Can the WNBA Draft light their way back?

Let’s take a little trip to Connecticut now. After back-to-back semifinal appearances, you’d think things were kind of stable, right? But instead, they went full chaos mode. Fired their head coach (again), hired Rachid Meziane — their third coach in four years — and then just went ahead and blew up the whole roster. 

Every single starter from last year is gone. And their top reserve Marina Mabrey has asked for a trade too… but the front office said no. But there’s still a silver lining. Connecticut’s got two first-round picks in the draft. And with a roster currently running on vibes and memories, they desperately need players who can contribute right now. Luckily, there are two perfect fits staring them in the face: Angel Reese’s LSU twin in energy, Aneesah Morrow, and the fearless floor general Hailey Van Lith.

Morrow was an absolute beast at LSU. She averaged 18.7 points, 13.5 rebounds (most in the nation), plus 2.5 steals and nearly a block per game. She’s like Angel Reese with a smoother jumper, and she’s got that same gritty, in-your-face kind of play style.

Then there’s Van Lith. After her whirlwind tour through Louisville and LSU, she landed at TCU for a comeback senior year, and she did deliver. 17.9 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. She’s a three-level scorer, can handle the ball under pressure, and has that ‘I got this’ attitude you want in a leader.

And the best part is these two already have chemistry. They played together at LSU, and their games mesh perfectly. Together, they’d give Connecticut a legit one-two punch. So yes, both Seattle and Connecticut are staring down huge draft nights. One’s reloading. One’s rebuilding. But with the right moves, both could come out of this as the big winners of the 2024 WNBA Draft.