Following the conclusion of the current WNBA season this year, most franchises opted for a complete roster overhaul. And it even included hiring a new head coach for the next season. Now then, the Seattle Storm, too, was no different.
After Noelle Quinn took the team to the playoffs, the franchise decided to part ways and search for a new coach. Finally, in a recent announcement, Storm revealed that Sonia Raman will be taking over the helm. And with it, she made history.
Raman became the very first Indian-origin head coach in the WNBA. Surely, this was something like a dream come true moment for Raman. And to make it even more special, the newly appointed Storm coach shared some interesting insights.
Why Does Seattle Storm Feel Like A Homecoming For Sonia Raman?
Raman was currently working as the assistant head coach for the New York Liberty. Before her stint in the WNBA, Raman spent 12 years with the MIT women’s basketball team. And her incredible success with the team made her the most successful coach in the program.
Now, regarding her recent responsibility as the Storm’s head coach, Raman revealed that it was her wife, Milena Flores, who helped her secure the job. After all, Flores is a native of Snohomish and played college basketball at Stanford.
Reflecting on the same, Raman stated, “And then Seattle itself as a city. It’s a premier women’s basketball city. Really rich tradition, deep support from the fan base. And I actually have really personal ties as well. My wife is from the area, so it’s kind of a homecoming for us as well.”
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NY Liberty assistant Sonia Raman has agreed to a multiyear deal to become the new head coach of the Seattle Storm, sources tell ESPN. Raman makes WNBA history as the first person of Indian-origin to be head coach – after being the first Indian-American woman to be NBA assistant. pic.twitter.com/HH1tPslIac
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 24, 2025
Surely, as per Raman, this is quite a pleasant connection to have. And with Seattle already earning NBA-wide praise for Raman’s appointment, the new head coach recently sounded utterly pleased with her welcome.
Sonia Raman Pleased With Warm Welcome From The Seattle Storm
Coming into the side, Raman will have a lot of responsibility to cater to. And the most important one will be to determine how to go about Dominique Malonga. As of now, Malonga’s incredible performance this year will surely keep the expectations heightened. But it will be up to Raman to decide whether she will integrate Malonga into a set team or build the entire roster around her.
Surely, all of this looks quite complicated. And while it remains to be seen how well the new head coach will shoulder her responsibilities, as of now, Raman is utterly pleased with her welcome.
“The Storm have been really welcoming, going back to even the [former coach] Dan Hughes era,” Raman said. “Being able to come in and watch practices. … Having the type of access I was able to have in 2024 in that training camp, it was really, really special to see the progress that they had made as an organization.”
Thus, it is evident that the Seattle Storm is expecting a lot out of Raman. Now, as things stand, it will be interesting to see how the new look Storm side performs.