Sonia Raman, an assistant coach for the New York Liberty, has reached a multiyear agreement to become the head coach of the Seattle Storm, according to sources familiar with the deal, as reported by The Athletic on Friday. After just one season in New York, Raman will take on the challenge of developing 2025’s No. 2 draft pick, Dominique Malonga, who is already being hailed as one of the league’s promising talents.
In her new role, Raman will also make history as the first head coach of Indian descent in the WNBA, succeeding Noelle Quinn, who led the Storm from 2021 to 2025. This past season marked Raman’s debut in the WNBA, where she significantly contributed to the Liberty’s offensive strategies and excelled in managing critical moments, including late-game scenarios and plays following timeouts.
Although new to the WNBA, Raman brings over a decade of coaching experience at various levels. From 2008 to 2020, she served as the head coach at Division III MIT, achieving considerable success that led to her joining the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2024, where she earned respect among her colleagues. Raman has some familiarity with the Storm and the surrounding area. During the 2024 WNBA season, while with Memphis, she observed several Storm practices to learn from their strategies. Additionally, her wife, former WNBA player Milena Flores, hails from just over 30 miles outside Seattle.
The Storm are poised to be one of the league’s more captivating teams this offseason. All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, and Gabby Williams were part of the roster last summer, yet the team has struggled to advance past the first round in the playoffs for two consecutive years. Ezi Magbegor, a 26-year-old center and former All-Star, is also a free agent and may explore options elsewhere.
Currently, the Liberty represents the only coaching vacancy in the WNBA. Raman has pursued head coaching opportunities in the league during the past two offseasons and was also a candidate in the Liberty’s ongoing coaching search, according to sources. Under Raman’s leadership, Seattle aims to enhance its performance in clutch situations. The Storm posted a 14-15 record in close games (defined as those within a five-point margin in the final five minutes), with a minus-12 net rating in those scenarios, ranking as the second-lowest among playoff teams.
