Former Liberty Assistant Leads the Storm into a New Chapter
The Seattle Storm have officially entered a new era with the hiring of Sonia Raman as their head coach, signalling a shift towards an analytical and innovative future. Raman, who spent her last season as an assistant with the New York Liberty, instantly made history as the first person of Indian descent to be a head coach in the WNBA, providing a moment of contrast, arriving just after the league's coaching ranks were noted to be lacking in diversity following Noelle Quinn's exit. This moment signals that Seattle is committed to redefining their identity after multiple seasons of early playoff exits. The Storm finished their last season with a 23-21 record and hopes that Raman’s background will bring back championship contention in the league. With Raman now leading the team, it’s evident that the Storm is determined to rebuild its foundation and regain its competitive edge in the evolving WNBA landscape.
Raman’s unique coaching experience provides crucial cross-league expertise that the Storm needs to evolve after the departure of former head coach Noelle Quinn. Specifically, Raman had four seasons with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, focused on analytics, detailed scouting, and player development, earning respect for her work, especially in late-game scenarios. Before she joined the NBA, she spent 12 successful years as the head coach for the MIT Women’s Basketball team, where she became the program’s all-time wins leader and steered them to two conference championships. That experience seamlessly carried over to her time with the Liberty, where she contributed to one of the league’s most efficient offenses. For instance, New York averaged 84.4 points per game in 2025, ranking in the top five in the WNBA for team scoring. Ultimately, her background in both the collegiate and professional ranks provides a strong foundation to build the Storm’s new identity into sustained success.
Raman is receiving a talented but uncertain roster, featuring veterans like Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, whose elite two-way play remains crucial for the team’s success, though they are set to hit free agency. She is also expected to develop the path for rookie sensation Dominique Malonga, who showed immense promise in her debut year, averaging 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in just 14.3 minutes per game during the 2025 regular season. Raman’s experience with player development gives high hopes that she will aggressively expand Malonga’s role, particularly in clutch situations, to create an unbeatable interior presence. This focus is critical because Seattle’s biggest weakness last season was in clutch time, where its late-game net rating was among the worst for playoff teams. With Raman’s reputation for composure, adaptability, and preparation, it could help the Storm turn those crucial moments into wins.
For the Seattle Storm, Sonia Raman represents their hope for renewal. Her hiring is both a milestone for representation in the professional basketball world and a clear statement of intent from this franchise looking to evolve. With this blend of veterans, promising young stars, and an experienced coach, the Storm is in a good place to reestablish itself as a contender. If her track record is any indication, Seattle’s next few chapters will be defined by discipline, growth, and the kind of leadership that ultimately leads to a swift return to WNBA Championship contention.
