SEATTLE — Nearly two weeks have passed since news broke about the Storm being under investigation for alleged player mistreatment, and there still has been no public acknowledgment of the allegations by the team or the WNBA.

The Storm and the league have repeatedly declined to comment, while the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has not responded to media requests. About half a dozen former and current players wouldn't comment on the situation.

A source with knowledge of the situation characterized the investigation as a "workplace complaint."

According to the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation, told The Seattle Times that the Storm received a complaint from a player who notified the team of concerns about the environment within the team's new practice facility.

In response, the Storm hired an outside investigator — and not a law firm, which was previously reported — to explore the complaint.

According to a source, the player did not contact the WNBPA or the WNBA about the complaint, and it's believed no other Storm player has made similar allegations.

Several former Storm players who asked not to be identified said they don't remember the team ever hiring an investigator in the past and a league source described the investigation as "very unusual."

The Chicago Sun-Times, which was first to break the story on Nov. 16, reported alleged player mistreatment, including harassment and bullying by the coaching staff tied to on-court performance.

After finishing 11-29 in 2023 — the most losses in franchise history — the Storm added Nneka Ogwumike, the WNBPA president and nine-time All-Star forward, and Skylar Diggins-Smith, a fiery and vocal six-time All-Star point guard, in free agency.

The two newcomers joined Jewell Loyd and standout forward Ezi Magbegor, who were dubbed the "Core Four," and led the Storm to a 25-15 record — the third most wins in team history.

It was just the fourth time a WNBA team made a 14-game improvement, but admittedly the Storm, which had championship aspirations and was labeled a super team, fell short of their goals following an 0-2 sweep in the first round of the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces.

Coach Noelle Quinn, who has a 74-68 record with the Storm, including 3-6 in the postseason, took ownership for the Storm's shortcomings.

"Going from 11 wins to 25 and the playoffs feels successful," she said. "I'm such a competitor though. I want more. I'm proud of our group and I'm proud of where we came from, from last season.

"... I'm on borrowed time, so I realize the importance of not wasting moments. I feel like in the big picture we had some success, but I think that this group could have done more and I feel responsible for that. So, we will continue to build."

Loyd, who was drafted No. 1 overall in 2015 and is the longest-tenured Storm player, also took responsibility for shooting a career-low 36% from the field and 27.4% on three-pointers — her lowest since 2016.

"This is the first time in my career where I haven't hit my benchmarks," Loyd said. "And when I say career, I mean literally from the eighth grade. So that's a new experience for me. It's crappy going through that, but at the same time taking ownership and how I played this season."

Including Loyd, the league's highest-paid player in 2024 and '25, Diggins-Smith, Magbegor, Jordan Horston and Nika Muhl are under contract next season.

Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Mercedes Russell, Sami Whitcomb, Victoria Vivians and Joyner Holmes are unrestricted free agents.

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