The Seattle Storm officially announced Sonia Raman as the franchise’s new head coach on Wednesday in a historic hiring, making her the first of Indian descent to serve as a WNBA head coach.
At the end of the introductory press conference, Raman joined general manager Talisa Rhea, holding a jersey with her name on it, ready for what’s to come for both of them in Seattle in the years ahead.
Raman’s Coaching Career
Raman became the first Indian American woman to serve as an NBA assistant for the Memphis Grizzlies for four seasons. Last season, Raman served as an assistant coach on Sandy Brondello‘s staff of the New York Liberty.
At the start of the introductory press conference, she thanked the team’s ownership for giving her the opportunity.
“It’s a tremendous honor and a privilege to be sitting here and to be in that role,” Raman said Wednesday. “It’s a huge responsibility as well.
“And I’ve said this before, I am the first, but I don’t want to be the last. And so how does that connect to the community of Seattle, and, of course, the greater Asian community. It’s really important that I’m showing up every day, that I’m pouring into the players, to the organization, and then to the greater community, and that I’m doing my best so that I can create these opportunities, open these doors, or just allow this next generation to see what’s possible. And I’m very excited for the community here in Seattle and to get to know them more in the months and years to come.”
Talisa Rhea Stated on “Extensive” Interview Process
When looking for the Storm’s next head coach after firing Noelle Quinn in September, Rhea explained how that process led to Seattle choosing Raman.
She also mentioned the head coaching search was “extensive” and the team “talked to a diverse candidate pool with a wide range of experiences.”
“I think broadly, I learned that there’s a ton of interest in the WNBA, and where our league is at is in a really exciting place,” Rhea said. “And for the Storm, specifically, just how much respect there is across basketball for what our ownership group and everyone before us has built here. So that was really exciting to have those conversations with Sonya.
“There was just immediate alignment on how she approaches first and foremost relationships, which is where we always start and so that being the foundation of how we can move forward, and how we can connect with players and really get the best out of them, individually and collectively as a team, as we try to build and move forward that stood out.”
When a reporter asked Rhea about her coaching process that led her to choose Raman to lead the Storm, she explained, “it was definitely collaborative.”
She also shared memories of Raman coming to practices in Seattle over the past year and being “acquainted with each other, and that definitely helped” the head coaching search.
Relationship Building Crucial to Team Success
The Storm are known for their championship pedigree throughout their franchise history, as they won four championships during the Sue Bird era.
One of the essential steps to success, as both Raman and Rhea mention, is building positive player-coach relationships.
“This team, this organization, there’s such a rich history here, and so first and foremost, building on that, connecting with the players [and] the staff, building those relationships and learning what we have and what we can do going forward,” Raman said.
“But I think Talisa [Rhea] mentioned it, the player development aspect of it is tremendous for me and in my background, I think it starts there. The relationships then build into the player development. We’ll incorporate analytics, as she mentioned, as well as some other areas, and all of that is to unlock their full potential so that we can be the best on the offensive side, on the defensive side, [and] the special teams.”
Rhea also echoed Raman’s statement about what they can both work on for the Storm in the years to come and the shared vision they have together.
“We were looking for someone who’s been a leader and a head coach, and Sonia has done that for over a decade during her career,” Rhea said. “Someone that can really connect with players and help get them to the next level that they want to be. And the relationship building and the player development that we’ve talked about were really critical to that.
“… So those were the key areas, and then, also aligning with our vision, our organizational values, and how we want to show up in the community. That our team has a lot of really great players coming off of last season, a lot of great pieces and a foundation to really build and move forward.
Last season, Seattle finished seventh with a 23-21 record and was eliminated in the first round by the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces in three close games.
The team experienced significant changes in recent seasons, with the departures of Breanna Stewart, Bird, and Jewell Loyd. In 2023, the Storm finished near the bottom in their first year of rebuilding but made it to the playoffs the following season after acquiring Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins.
What’s Next for Storm in Free Agency?
With the uncertainty surrounding the CBA negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ union, the deadline was recently extended to Nov. 30.
Most of the players across the WNBA are unrestricted free agents this offseason, which will be crucial for all teams across the league, including two expansion teams.
The question is how the Storm can retain the core of Ogwumike, Diggins, and Gabby Williams, along with supporting players such as Erica Wheeler. Additionally, strengthening the bench and maintaining consistency throughout the season are priorities for Seattle.
The team also features the rising star of 19-year-old French phenom center Dominique Malonga, who was selected by the team second overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She was named to the league’s All-Rookie team this past season.
“Absolutely, it’s essential to what we do,” Rhea said. “And, players they want to come for the organization, what we’re able to provide, how we can further improve their career. But the connection with the head coach is really where it starts. And so it’s critical for us that we feel like we have a partner in that, and someone that the players will really connect with and really buy into their vision on how Sonya and her staff can take them to their next level.”
As the Seattle Storm turns to the next chapter with Raman’s hiring as head coach amid CBA negotiation uncertainties, the team remains optimistic about returning to its winning ways.
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