Storm Coaches Reportedly Being Investigated for Player Mistreatment Allegations

A jarring report has come out that alleges the Seattle Storm coaching staff is being investigated for, "alleged harassment and bullying tied to on-court performance".

Jul 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Seattle Storm coach Noelle Quinn reacts during the game against the LA Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

On Friday, evening Chicago Sun-Times reporter Annie Costabile wrote an article that alleged the Seattle Storm coaching staff is under investigation for alleged player mistreatment.

"A law firm hired by the team is looking into accusations of alleged harassment and bullying tied to on-court performance against the coaching staff during the 2024 season, a source said. The allegations stem from incidents that happened at practice and during games. An email from the law firm, obtained by the Sun-Times, showed the investigation has been active for at least two weeks," Costabile wrote.

She later added, "According to one league source, the investigation was sparked by multiple players’ experiences."

BREAKING: The Storm coaching staff is under investigation for alleged player mistreatment, a WNBA source told the Sun-Times.

A law firm hired by the team is looking into accusations of alleged harassment and bullying tied to on-court performance.https://t.co/0l4Ah2TOOf

— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) November 16, 2024

This report is fascinating on multiple fronts. One of which is that Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike — who is also the President of the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) — conveyed what seemed like a clear desire to play for Seattle again in 2025 after signing a one-year deal with the team this past offseason during her recent appearance on the "A Touch More" podcast

"I am looking for a team that has a head coach that I am connected to, a practice facility, great engagement when it comes from ownership, management that's on top of it," Ogwumike said when asked about her free agency.

"I mean, Seattle has all those things," she added with a wry smile.

Nneka Ogwumike, today, talking about Free Agency and how the Seattle Storm has all of the things she is looking for in a team:

- a head coach that she is connected to
- practice facility
- great engagement when it comes to ownership
- great management.

Full Video:… pic.twitter.com/D1Kc99qghg

— LEO (@the22_LEO) November 6, 2024

Seattle's head coach is Noelle Quinn, who was made head coach of the team in 2021 after coach Dan Hughes (who Quinn served as an assistant coach for) retired.

Surely more is to come from this still developing story.