After her incredible showing for France during the Olympic Games in Paris, star forward Gabby Williams is back in the WNBA .
On Tuesday, the Seattle Storm announced that it had signed the Olympic silver medalist to a rest-of-season contract and will wear No. 5, the number she wore when she first played for the Storm . The 27-year-old will be joining a squad with championship aspirations and Williams shared her excitement to be returning to Seattle.
"I'm so excited to be joining the Storm for the rest of the season," Williams said in a statement. "I feel more than ready to finally return to Seattle. I've missed the organization, my teammates and the fans so much. I absolutely can't wait to come back and finish the season strong."
Williams added a simple message on X, posting: "Missed yall" - with a hand creating a heart emoji. Her return comes days after it was announced the French star was mulling a comeback after almost leading France over the United States in the gold medal game.
Originally, the three teams Williams was interested in joining were the Storm, New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury, if she decided to return. However, it appeared as if Williams' return was just a matter of time , as Talisa Rhea, the Storm's general manager, said.
"We'll definitely have conversations with Gabby when we can," Rhea said. "As we saw this year, things can happen, so I don't know if it's definitive. We love having Gabby here. She was great while she was here, so hopefully we can continue those conversations."
Storm head coach Noelle Quinn added the team is "thrilled" Williams is returning to Seattle. "Gabby is a dynamic player who brings tremendous versatility," Quinn said in a statement.
"She’s a two-way player that can guard multiple positions and has a strong offensive game; given her familiarity with our system, we know she can have an immediate impact. Gabby’s Olympic performance showcased her world-class talent, and we’re excited to have her join us as we push for the playoffs."
Williams played a season and a half with the Storm, with the star forward playing a full season with Seattle in 2022 after spending three seasons with the Chicago Sky. In 2023, Williams only played 10 games and was only allowed to play in the league after her contract was voided due to a concussion she sustained while playing overseas.
The WNBA's prioritizing rule makes it difficult for players to return to the league if they play overseas, leading to Williams doubting if it were even possible to return to the league in 2024. "2024 looks like it's not possible, more so because of prioritization and of course even if I were to come, it would be in August with the Olympics," she told ESPN in September 2023.
Even with her WNBA future uncertain at that point, Williams proclaimed she would do what it took to return back stateside. "But 2025, I plan on coming back," she continued.
After averaging 15.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals in six Olympic games, her value was unmistakable to teams around the league. Williams was also named the "Best Defensive Player" of the tournament and was selected to the All-Star Five, showing her prowess on both ends of the floor.
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