Storm Re-Sign 2024 Third-Round Pick Mackenzie Holmes

The Seattle Storm reunited with forward Mackenzie Holmes, their No. 26 overall pick in 2024, following the trade of Li Yueru. Credit: JD Scott

The Seattle Storm re-signed free agent forward Mackenzie Holmes on Monday, the team announced, bringing their active player count back to 10 ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Holmes, originally a third-round pick (No. 26 overall) by the Storm in 2024, spent training camp with Seattle but didn’t make the final roster. Instead, the Storm kept 6-foot-7 center Li Yueru, who was traded to the frontcourt-needy Dallas Wings on Saturday after requesting a trade. The team ran with nine active players in its loss to the Golden State Valkyries later that day, following the Yueru deal.

After missing the entire 2024 season due to a knee injury, Holmes was a standout during training camp and played well in the team’s lone preseason game against the Connecticut Sun. In 21 minutes, Holmes finished with nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks against the Sun. She now has another chance to make her WNBA debut as a depth option in the post.

Holmes played five college seasons at Indiana, finishing her career first in program history in points (2,530), field goals made (1,043), field goal percentage (63.9) and wins (123). Still just 24 years old, the 6-foot-3 forward won’t fill the exact matchup role of Yueru, who is four inches taller, but could see a few minutes per game behind Seattle’s current frontcourt rotation of Nneka Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor and rookie No. 2 overall pick Dominique Malonga.

Malonga is averaging 9.3 minutes per game and has played at least 10 minutes in six of the Storm’s last eight games. Holmes will likely have to battle for minutes behind the 19-year-old rookie. Her rebounding and defense, however, are massive strengths that could make her immediately valuable. At the very least, she’s an extra game-ready player.

Seattle visits Los Angeles at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. It will be the second contest of a three-game road trip for the Storm — their longest of the season thus far. The trip will conclude against the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, June 20.