The Seattle Storm will have to begin their season without a key starter.
Ezi Magbegor suffered a right foot injury while playing for Australia in the 2026 FIBA world cup qualifiers, the team announced on Monday. The Storm added that updates on the forward's status will be made available in six to eight weeks.
Magbegor, 26, has been an interior anchor for the Storm since she was drafted 12th overall by the team in 2019. Last season, she started all 44 regular-season games and averaged eight points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 blocks, which ranked second in the WNBA.
Magbegor's 96 total blocks topped the league last season and she was named to an all-defence team for a fourth consecutive time in her six-year WNBA career.
With the season set to tip off in less than three weeks, the new-look Storm will have plenty of adjustments to make now that Magbegor is unavailable. Seattle went 23-21 last season before losing in the first round of the WNBA playoffs and has since lost its top five scorers via free agency.
Head coach Sonia Raman may have to lean more on soon-to-be sophomore forward Dominique Malonga, who spent her first year backing up Magbegor en route to an all-rookie selection. The one-time all-star's injury situation may also create more of an opportunity for Spanish centre Awa Fam, whom the Storm took third overall in the 2026 draft a week ago.
Seattle opens its season on May 8, hosting the Golden State Valkyries.
