By Christan Braswell, edited by Charles Hamaker

Seattle, WA - While the Storm may not be finished in free agency, it seems the No. 2 overall pick acquired from the Los Angeles Sparks in a three-team trade that sent franchise cornerstone Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces isn’t up for sale like some initially thought it may be.

Late Saturday afternoon, the Storm posted a graphic with the caption “Counting down the days” and an illustration of an envelope with the No. 2 pick on it.

There were several players with questionable situations in the trade market that Seattle could’ve used the pick on in an attempt to replicate Loyd’s production. At the end of the day, the team is banking on continuity and the youth that will carry it into the new generation of Storm basketball.

Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles is currently the projected selection at two for the Storm. The scenario is fluid, but pairing Miles with fellow Notre Dame great in Skylar Diggins-Smith could be the dream jumpstart to a rookie guard’s career. Her ability to create for herself and others is one that will be utilized early and often. Iron sharpens iron and with the relationship Diggins-Smith previously fostered with Miles, the writing is on the wall.

Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike won’t play forever and when they signed with the Storm last year, this was a topic they returned to occasionally. When they do decide to call it a career, Seattle will have a talented young core of Jordan Horston, Ezi Magbegor, and Miles should they draft her.

The end to Loyd’s time in a Storm jersey didn’t end on the best of terms, but the return will set the organization up staunchly for the next decade.

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