It has been several years since the Seattle Storm only drafted two new team members during the WNBA Draft. This year we welcome the new faces of rookies Breanna Stewart, the 6’4 forward from UConn and Lexie Eaton Rydalch, the 5’10 guard from BYU. Stewart was the first draft pick and Eaton Rydalch was second pick during the third round, making her the 26^th overall. In most previous drafts, however, the Storm chose at least three new members, if not more. Let’s take a look.

Last year, we had Rookie of the Year Jewell Loyd join the Storm; like Stewart, she was a #1 pick. In addition to Loyd, the Storm chose Amanda Zahui B., another early entry, and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who remains on the team today. During the 2014 draft, the Storm chose three women as well: Bria Harley, Michelle Plouffe and Mikaela Ruef, none of whom remain with the Storm today. The three selections from 2013, Tianna Hawkins, Chelsea Poppens and Jasmine James, are also no longer with Seattle. It was back in 2012 when the Storm selected two players (Shekinna Stricklen and Keisha Hampton) from the WNBA Draft, but before that, there were another two years during which three players were chosen.

Do you think the Storm has done better when they were able to choose more than two draft selections, or do you think that two are just enough? What do you think of this year’s choices, Breanna Stewart and Lexie Eaton Rydalch? To see all of the Storm’s previous draft selections since 2000, click here.

Stewart, of course, was thrilled to be the #1 Draft Pick of the year. She hugged her parents before approaching the media when her name was called. She told reporters, “To actually see it happen, to actually be drafted, that's a memory you'll have forever. Her fans may be interested in following her on Twitter, where she describes herself as “Just a basketball player… humble and hungry!”  Be sure to check out her new photo in the Seattle Storm uniform. She tweeted a picture of herself in it looking quite fierce and ready to work, saying, “Dreams are becoming realities! Excited to be a member of the @seattlestorm.” She later stated, “And to be able to hold up that Seattle Storm jersey, I couldn’t have pictured it any better.” According to those who knew her in her high school days, Stewart was only allowed to play during half of her games as a youth to give the other team a fighting chance! Ouch.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia