Sonia Raman is making history and switching coasts, leaving her assistant coaching role with the New York Liberty to become the new head coach of the Seattle Storm, ESPN reported on Friday.
Raman, 51, agreed to a multi-year deal with the Storm and will be the first person of Indian origin to be a head coach in the WNBA, per the report. Raman was previously the first Indian-American woman to be an NBA assistant coach, holding that role with the Memphis Grizzlies (2020-24) before joining the Liberty’s staff last season.
The Liberty, who didn’t renew coach Sandy Brondello’s contract in September, are the only team currently without a head coach.
Raman replaces Noelle Quinn, who was fired after the Storm lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces. Quinn posted a 97-89 record in her five seasons with Seattle, which made the playoffs in four of her five seasons at the helm.
“I think we’re looking for a leader, someone who can manage a group and really establish a new identity,” Storm general manager Talisa Rhea told ESPN in September. “There’s a lot of uncertainty, and we’re entering a new chapter, just kind of league-wide, so excited for someone to really be able to put their mark on a team and build confidence, build team chemistry and build an identity on the court that will ultimately lead us to trying to compete for years to come.”
With a new collective bargaining agreement set to increase WNBA player salaries, Storm All-Stars Brittney Sykes, Gabby Williams, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins will be unrestricted free agents this season, but All-Rookie team center Dominique Malonga is under contract.
However, Malonga recently terminated her three-year contract with Turkish club Fenerbahce Opet, which is pursuing legal action that could prevent the 19-year-old from receiving a required “letter of clearance” from FIBA to return to the WNBA.
–Field Level Media
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