SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm coaching staff is under investigation after allegations of player mistreatment during the 2024 season.

A Storm spokesperson said the team was aware of the investigation when reached Friday but would not comment further. The allegations were reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

A WNBA spokesperson said they were aware of the report but would not comment.

According to the Sun-Times, a law firm has been hired by the team to investigate accusations of harassment and bullying by the coaching staff, which was tied to on-court performance. The allegations stem from incidents that happened at practice and during games. An email from the law firm, which was obtained by the Sun-Times, showed the investigation has been active for at least two weeks.

Seattle's coaching staff this season was led by Noelle Quinn, who completed her fourth season as coach of the Storm. Quinn signed a multiyear contract extension after the 2023 season when Seattle lost a franchise-record 29 games, but the Storm rebounded this past season with the help of additions such as Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike. Seattle finished 25-15 in the regular season, good for fifth overall in the WNBA, but was bounced by Las Vegas in the opening round of the playoffs.

Quinn's assistants this past season were Ebony Hoffman, Perry Huang and Pokey Chatman. All three assistants have been with the Storm for several seasons; Chatman and Hoffman arrived in 2022 and Huang in 2021.

The Sun-Times reported that the investigation was sparked by multiple players' experiences, according to an unnamed league source. While the Storm have Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor under contract for next season, the team does have six unrestricted free agents including Ogwumike, center Mercedes Russell and guard Sami Whitcomb.

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Seattle Times reporter Percy Allen contributed to this report.

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