Seattle Storm waive Lexie Brown a year after trading for her

This year was going to be different.

Lexie Brown believed she was poised for a breakout season with the Storm after averaging just 2.1 points - her lowest since her rookie season in 2018 - in 24 games off the bench last year.

On May 10, she was the catalyst to an 89-82 Storm victory against the Connecticut Sun and drained five three-pointers for 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

In the next eight games, the 5-foot-9 guard converted 6 of 17 shots, while her role and minutes diminished. She didn't accompany the team on its latest trip and missed Saturday's 88-68 loss against the Minnesota Lynx.

Before Monday's game against the Las Vegas Aces, the Storm released Brown and filled her spot with guard/forward Taylor Thierry, a two-year veteran who played sparingly in three games this season for Seattle as a developmental player.

"We wish her all the best," coach Sonia Raman said when asked about Brown. "Just where we are as a team and where she is in her career just weren't aligned at the moment.

"We're excited about Taylor and her being able to move from her development spot to the roster spot. She's worked really hard. Credit to our player development coaches as well for the work that they put into that space. We want to really be a high level development system here. Be able to bring players in and pour into them and allow them to have these opportunities."

Last year, the Storm acquired Brown and a 2025 third-round pick in a trade with the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Seattle's 2025 and 2027 second-round picks.

At the time, Brown had two years remaining on a guaranteed contract that paid her $96,408 in 2025 and was slated to make $96,818 in 2026. She was one of two WNBA veterans who were not free agents in the offseason.

"After last season and how things ended and how things shook out in the offseason, I just felt like this was something that I wanted to be a part of long-term," said Brown, a nine-year WNBA veteran, during training camp. "For me personally, I just want to get on the floor and then just continue to pour into the people that are here.

"My role has made a complete 180 as far as being one of the players on the team that is familiar with the organization, with the city and just making everybody feel comfortable. My production on the court will come. Wins and losses are what it is, but for me most importantly is building a new culture here."

However, Brown averaged 3.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 14.5 minutes in 10 games off the bench this season. She was scoreless in her last two outings.

During her two-year tenure in Seattle, Brown averaged 2.6 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 34 games. She shot 39.2% from the field, including 33.3% (19 of 57) on three-pointers.

After the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement, Brown's 2026 salary increased to $277,500 guaranteed, according to Her Hoops Stats.

Before Monday's moves, the Storm were roughly $680,000 below the $7 million salary cap, which gave them financial flexibility to waive Brown and sign Thierry.

The Storm have a league-maximum 12 players on the active roster, not including developmental player and rookie guard Taina Mair.

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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM.