The hearts of every American would have been in their mouths in the final seconds of the gold-medal game between Team USA and France. Such was the impact created by Les Bleue’s dynamic No.15 Gabby Williams. Something similar has eluded the WNBA for some time courtesy of a prioritization clause. Nonetheless, the power forward makes her much-anticipated return to the most star-studded league in the whole world. And who better to make the most of her talents than the 4x WNBA champs, the Seattle Storm?

An 83-77 victory against the Washington Mystics didn’t require the services of Gabby Williams. Anyhow, according to some sources, she can get a chance to exhibit her skills when the franchise hosts the same opponents on August 26.

Williams will be joining the likes of the veteran All-Star duo of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike. In addition to this, the team also possesses the experience of 2x Olympic gold medalist Jewell Loyd and the Opals bronze medalist Ezi Magbegor. “We’re thrilled to have Gabby back with the Storm,” said Head Coach Noelle Quinn soon after the announcement. “Gabby is a dynamic player who brings tremendous versatility.” 

For Williams, it would be more of a reunion. A part of the roster after getting traded from the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022, Williams participated in 36 games that season. Then, she was able to produce 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per contest. In addition to this, she also maintained a career-best efficiency of 44.4% from the field.

Mission out on the first half of the season due to a season-ending stress fracture in her left foot, the 5 ft 11 forward featured in 10 games the subsequent season after re-signing with the Storm. Following this, she headed back to France and joined the national team to prepare for the Olympics.

“I’m so excited to be joining the Storm for the rest of the season,” William’s initial thoughts on rejoining the league. “I feel more than ready to finally return to Seattle. I’ve missed the organization, my teammates and the fans so much. I absolutely can’t wait to come back and finish the season strong.” 

While her equation with the Storm seems quite pleasant for the time being, sadly, it wasn’t the case when she was a part of the Chicago Sky.

The unpleasant history of Gabby Williams with the Chicago Sky

A commitment to the French national team during the Women’s EuroBasket 2021 qualifying tournament. This eventually became the reason why Gabby Williams is not a part of the Chicago Sky locker room. The chain of events that included her trade first to LA Sparks and then to Seattle made her presence a rare sight in the WNBA.

Carrying a free agent status, the 27-year-old remained in her native land. Seemingly, she kept playing for French professional women’s basketball club ASVEL Féminin. It is only after her scintillating display at the Paris Olympics, which resulted in 15.5 points and 5.8 assists per game, the spotlight was back on her. Not to forget, a career-defining team-high 19 points in the Finals was enough to put Team USA’s 60-game unbeaten streak to the test.

The Storm’s WNBA campaign gets a huge boost with the inclusion of Gabby Williams. The team, 18-10, only hopes the power forward repeats her Olympic heroics as they head for their 4th game against the Mystics this season.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.