The WNBA season just slammed the brakes, pausing until Thursday, September 17, but before that, our Seattle Storm took a 90-74 gut punch from the Los Angeles Sparks. Yeah, that score stings, especially heading into a league-wide break, but don’t let it totally darken your mood. Because even with the WNBA on pause, our Storm fam is about to go global! Four of our absolute best are heading straight to Berlin, Germany for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off this Friday, September 4th.
The Emerald City’s Green and Blue Going Global
Seriously, how cool is this? We’ve got Awa Fam repping Spain, Ezi Magbegor and Jade Melbourne rocking it for Australia, and Dominique Malonga showing out for France. That’s four legitimate talents from our squad making noise on the international stage! It’s a massive point of pride for Seattle On Tap and every single fan in the Emerald City to see our players among the 51 WNBA stars filling the rosters of 16 national teams. Every single WNBA team, except for the Chicago Sky (classic Chicago, am I right?), is sending at least one player, but New York Liberty is going all out with a league-high eight. Our four represent a strong showing, and it proves the kind of talent we’re building right here at home.
Team USA Shake-Up and the World Stage
Beyond our Storm crew, the FIBA World Cup is going to be packed with high-octane basketball. There was even a late-breaking roster change for Team USA. Health reasons kept A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum stateside, which is a bummer, but Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron are stepping up big for the red, white, and blue. It just goes to show how intense this tournament is going to be, with so many WNBA players vying for national glory. These are the kinds of matchups that keep you glued to the screen, watching talent from across the league battle it out with national pride on the line.
What This Pause Means for Our Squad’s Return
Let’s be real, that 90-74 loss to the Sparks wasn’t the ideal way to head into a mid-season break. You always want to end on a high note, you know? But having our players compete in the FIBA World Cup means they’re staying sharp, staying in game shape, and bringing that international experience back home. When the WNBA season fires back up on September 17, these four Storm ballers will be coming off some serious competition. It’s a chance for them to grow, to challenge themselves against the best in the world, and then bring all that fire back to our home court. Get ready to cheer them on in Berlin, and then even louder when they return to light up the WNBA!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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