Remember the final game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where W’s top stars faced tough competition from French players? The post Gabby Williams' WNBA Future on the Line as Seattle Storm Move Leaves Her Options Hanging by a Thread appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Gabby Williams seemingly will be returning to the Seattle Storm after the franchise cored her, though it remains to be seen what the team intends to do with the star this season

Gabby Williams will reportedly not become an unrestricted free agent, and the Storm will use their core designation on the sixth-year forward.

Gabby Williams, who averaged a career-high 10.3 points last season, was designated as the Storm's core player and will not become an unrestricted free agent.

Williams, widely considered one of the sport’s elite defenders, signed with the Storm mid-season after spending the first half of the season with the French national team, which culminated in an Olympic silver medal. In 12 games with the Storm, she averaged a career-high 10.3 points, as well as 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

The Seattle Storm extended a core qualifying offer to Gabby Williams, sources told ESPN's Kevin Pelton.The designation allows Williams to sign a one-year qualifying offer at the WNBA's highest salary ($249,

Likely dictated by the decisions of Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams, the Storm's free-agency moves will likely have a long-term impact on the franchise.

The Seattle Storm designated forward Gabby Williams as a core player on Tuesday, ensuring she will not become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

The games -- which will be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays over a two-month span -- will take place on a 70- by 50-foot compacted full court. The season has a round-robin schedule, after which the top four teams will advance to the playoffs. -- Andrews

Nika Muhl reserved a special 3-word reaction for Gabby Williams on social media. EuroBasket Women's Instagram handle shared a picture of Gabby Williams and congratulated her on becoming 2024's European Player of the Year. Muhl dropped into the post's comments section to applaud her teammate for her latest achievement.