Seattle Storm’s Big Games: When does Caitlin Clark come to Climate Pledge?

May 13, 2024, 11:59 AM

Seattle Storm Jewell Loyd 2024 WNBA Caitlin Clark...

Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm reacts during a 2023 game at Climate Pledge Arena. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Seattle Sports

On Tuesday night, the Seattle Storm will begin a big season for the WNBA that will feature a heralded draft class headlined by superstar Caitlin Clark.

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It should be a big year for Seattle, too, as the Storm appear primed to take a step forward in 2024 after a notable offseason during which they added six-time All-Star point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith in free agency and traded for former MVP and eight-time All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike.

The Storm also made a pretty important pick in the WNBA Draft last month, taking UConn guard Nika Mühl – who garnered some attention in college thanks to her defensive skills against Clark when her team went up against Iowa – in the second round.

Don’t forget about the returning stars the Storm have, either. There’s of course “The Gold Mamba,” guard Jewell Loyd, a five-time All-Star who led the WNBA in scoring last season at 24.7 points per game. Center Ezi Magbegor returns after averaging 13.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in an All-Star season in 2023, as does guard Sami Whitcomb, a UW Huskies product who averaged 9.7 points and 2.9 assists last year.

Will the Storm, who lost stars Breanna Stewart (free agency) and Sue Bird (retirement) after the 2022 campaign, be able to make their way back into the playoffs with this roster after falling short last year for the first time since 2015? There are some big games on the home schedule at Climate Pledge Arena that will help determine that. Here are a few to keep in mind.