The Seattle Storm seem to have gone from battling on the court to battling headlines, and this time it’s juicier than a courtside nacho platter. Following their first-round playoff exit to the Las Vegas Aces, allegations of player mistreatment have left the team swirling in controversy. Storm head coach Noelle Quinn and her staff are under investigation, and if reports are to be believed, they might not be the only ones caught in this brewing cyclone.
But hold onto your foam fingers, because the plot just thickened. Fans with a keen eye for Instagram drama (because where else does modern conflict unfold?) noticed that two WNBA stars, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, seem to have gasp unfollowed Jewell Loyd. Yes, the digital equivalent of “you can’t sit with us” has sparked a frenzy of speculation.
The Unfollow-Gate
The whispers began on Monday when an X (formerly Twitter) account pointed out the sudden unfollowing. Naturally, the social media sleuths went to work, confirming through screenshots that Ogwumike and Diggins-Smith no longer follow Loyd. While this could be as innocent as a rogue thumb swipe or an algorithmic glitch, fans are convinced there’s a deeper story here.
Diggins-Smith, who joined the Storm this offseason, didn’t help matters by posting a cryptic Instagram story:
“Don’t tell a lie on me… I won’t tell the truth ’bout you.”
Ominous much? Fans are already dissecting this like it’s the Zapruder film of basketball beef.
Nike, Numbers, and Near Misses
Meanwhile, Jewell Loyd finds herself at the center of yet another controversy—this time involving her Nike contract. According to an independent report by journalist Roberta Rodrigues, Loyd missed out on a performance bonus by a mere 0.3 points per game. The bonus reportedly required her to average 20.0 points, but she finished the season at 19.7.
Rodrigues claimed that the Storm’s coaching decisions may have played a role in Loyd falling short. However, Loyd’s agent, Jade-Li English, wasn’t having any of it:
“I am not going to comment on everything you have posted, but you are posting lies. This is not journalism.”
Ouch. That statement came with enough sting to rival a bee trapped in a jersey. But Rodrigues clapped back, claiming her sources were from Loyd’s “inner circle.” English, still unimpressed, countered by emphasizing that she was directly involved in the Nike negotiations and knew the truth.
What’s Next for the Storm?
With an investigation looming over the coaching staff, social media unfollows making headlines, and contract drama spilling into the public eye, the Seattle Storm are clearly in the middle of an offseason soap opera. Fans, meanwhile, are watching this saga unfold with popcorn in hand, waiting to see who says—or posts—what next.
If the WNBA needs a new tagline, might we suggest: “Where drama meets dunks”?
