It felt like Jordan Horston was on the verge of a breakout in Seattle last summer—and in the best possible way. There was something about Horston that fans seemed to love every time she stepped on the floor. Whether it was her end-to-end drives, on-ball defense, or tough plays that brought the crowd to life. It felt as if the Seattle Storm had hit the jackpot. Now, two seasons into her WNBA career and with a big third season ahead of her, Horston will not build upon the rhythm she hit in 2025. Instead, she will watch from the sidelines with a lost season on her WNBA resume, as the player suffered a torn ACL during an overseas offseason.

How did Jordan Horston get injured, and what impact will it have on her 2025 season?

The injury occurred in February while Jordan Horston was playing in the Athletes Unlimited league, a domestic offseason competition designed to keep WNBA players stateside. Like many players in the WNBA, Williams used the league as both a way to stay playing during the WNBA offseason and to earn extra income. However, the ACL injury cut her offseason short. Now, it has also put her out of action for the 2025 WNBA season.

An ACL tear typically requires 9-12 months of rehabilitation, meaning Horston is unlikely to return before the 2026 WNBA season. Hence, Seattle, after exams, suspended Horston in a procedural move for players who sustain injuries outside of the WNBA and whose recovery time is expected to last at least six weeks into the season. The injury’s timing is particularly cruel, as Horston was on the cusp of a breakout season after earning top-five votes for the WNBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2024.

The Storm’s decision to place her on the suspended list removes her salary from the team’s cap and roster limits, allowing flexibility to sign new players like rookie Dominique Malonga, drafted No. 2 overall in 2025. However, replacing Horston’s unique blend of versatility and defensive prowess will be no easy task.

What are Jordan Horston’s WNBA stats so far in her rookie season with the Seattle Storm?

In her first two seasons, Horston proved that numbers don’t always reflect the full picture, though they were quite good. Drafted 9th overall in 2023, Jordan played in 36 games and made 17 starts. The same year, she averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. She was also ranked 2nd among rookies in steals + blocks and 3rd in scoring + rebounds. As further noted by WNBA.com, “one of 13 players in WNBA history to average 6.9+ points, 5.1+ rebounds, 1.6+ assists, 1.2+ steals, and 0.6+ blocks through first 36 career games (only one with 17 or fewer starts) and only the seventh since 2000″. Her standout moments included a double-double with 13 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against Phoenix, and a career-high 23 points with 10 rebounds at Atlanta.

Her remarkable rookie season also earned her a spot on the 2023 WNBA All-Rookie Team. And she performed like this despite battling a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. “Jordan Horston confirmed she will have surgery on her shoulder. She’s going to stay in Seattle and rehab this off-season,” posted @WNBAStormChaser on X in September 2023.

In 2024, her role quickly grew. Horston started 14 of the 39 games she played and developed into Seattle’s most trusted reserve. Her defensive intensity, ferocity on the boards, and versatility to guard multiple positions provided genuine value to a team in transition. She capped off her second season with remarkable improvement, particularly in shooting efficiency. She averaged 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 22.3 minutes per game. Her field goal percentage soared to 49.3%, a 12.6% improvement from her rookie year, marking “the fourth-best jump in WNBA history”. 

Alas, we won’t see any changes in her profile this year. Recovery and rehab will be the thing in 2026.

What is Jordan Horston’s background, and what role did she play prior to the injury?

Horston’s status didn’t start in the WNBA. It was forged during her time at the Africentric High School in Ohio, where she was born and brought up. Her story of grit started there only when she led her team to a second consecutive state title despite suffering a 102°F fever the night before. She then committed to the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, where she cemented her legacy during an exceptional four-year career. Just the second Lady Vol ever to tally over 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, and 400 assists, her resume did plenty of the talking. Add clutch play and rare leadership, and adaptability to it all.

In the WNBA, she made a smooth transition. Her rookie season with the Storm was characterized by toughness and flexibility. With her team experiencing an incredible amount of roster turnover, Horston was the mainstay in the second unit. She often played out of position, but she was exactly what the modern WNBA demands: a wing who can defend both guards and forwards, hit the glass, and get out in transition.

Still, it’s a tough break. The timing is a worst-case scenario—for Horston and for a rebuilding franchise—but if her resume on and off the court offers any indication, she won’t be down for long. Seattle’s coaching staff and home crowd are confident the comeback will be worth the wait.