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The Seattle Storm secured a crucial piece of their roster by re-signing All-Star center Ezi Magbegor to a contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. The Australian big, who would have been an unrestricted free agent after this season, has seen her role and production steadily increase each year since being drafted 12th overall by Seattle in 2019.
Magbegor debuted with the Storm's 2020 championship team, a year after being drafted with the final pick of the first round in 2019. She played her first two years of professional basketball in Australia with the Canberra Capitals
and Melbourne Boomers from 2017 to 2018, and 2018 to 2020, respectively. The 6-foot-5 center has shown consistent improvement in both her minutes and points per game each season in the WNBA, culminating in last year's All-Star selection.
“Seattle is where I want to be,” Magbegor said in a press release announcing the extension, per Kevin Pelton of ESPN. “It's been my home away from home for the last 5 years and I love what we are building as a group. I'm excited to commit to an organization that has created a standard for women's sports and leads the way as a professional sports team on and off the court.”
An All-Defensive second-team pick in both 2022 and 2023, Magbegor's current blocks per game average would be the highest for a WNBA player since Brittney Griner's 4.0 BPG in 2015. Additionally, she is averaging a career-high 8.6 rebounds per game during the Storm's 5-3 start, highlighted by a four-game winning streak.
Alongside Magbegor, Seattle has All-Star guards Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loyd signed through 2025. All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike, who joined the Storm on a one-year contract, can become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Teammates praise Ezi Magbegor’s impact
Magbegor's re-signing has been met with enthusiasm from her teammates, who have praised her defensive prowess and potential. It was on full display in a 77-68 win over Chicago May 29, swatting away five shots including a pair of thunderous blocks on layup attempts.
“I can't say those words,” Storm coach Noelle Quinn said about the blocks. “It's just incredible. She's getting it out the air. The force behind it…It's fun to see her grow.”
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“I thought she was spectacular,” said veteran guard Skylar Diggins-Smith. “She'll be in this (league) long when I'm out and gone, 10 more years plus. She's really just scratching the surface of the player that I think we'll see in final form.”
With Magbegor patrolling the paint, Seattle held Chicago to just 40.9% shooting as she stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Her defensive impact has her emerging as an early Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
“The blocks are where I can help my teammates out if I’m in the paint and someone is cutting. Just having a help mentality,” Magbegor said.
Storm also add veteran forward Joyner Holmes
In addition to locking up Magbegor long-term, the Storm recently strengthened their frontcourt depth by re-signing veteran forward Joyner Holmes just weeks after waiving her due to salary cap constraints. Holmes started with Seattle during the 2023 season after playing for the Los Angeles Sparks. Holmes was initially drafted by the Storm in 2020 as the 19th pick in the second round, but was waived from the team. She played 2020 and 2021 with the New York Liberty, before a move to the Las Vegas Aces in 2021, followed by the Connecticut Sun in 2023.
Initially, a tough cut to get down to 11 players, Seattle was able to create enough cap space to bring Holmes back by waiving rookie Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu last Friday. Holmes' prorated veteran minimum salary now fits as the Storm's 11th player.
“I've been busting my (butt),” Holmes said. “I just didn't want to have any lapse…I wanted to come back and I wanted to fit right in.”
Holmes played 29 games for Seattle last season after being acquired from Los Angeles, averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest. Coach Quinn indicated Holmes could soon rejoin the rotation, providing additional defensive versatility in the frontcourt.
