Sonia Raman is heading to Seattle — and into the history books. The Seattle Storm have agreed to a multiyear deal with New York Liberty assistant Sonia Raman to become the franchise’s new head coach, sources told ESPN on Friday.

Raman becomes the first person of Indian descent to serve as a head coach in WNBA history, extending her trailblazing career after being the first Indian American woman to hold an assistant coaching role in the NBA.

Raman spent the 2024 season as an assistant with the Liberty following four years with the Memphis Grizzlies, where she was part of a player development–focused staff that emphasized pace, spacing, and defensive versatility. Her new role represents a full-circle moment — one that positions her to guide a Seattle team balancing veteran urgency with long-term promise.

Andy Latack and Steve Neff of Klutch Sports negotiated Raman’s deal with the Storm, finalizing Seattle’s first major move of the offseason following a first-round playoff exit to the Las Vegas Aces.

Seattle’s search began after the organization dismissed head coach Noelle Quinn on Sept. 21, three days after the loss to Las Vegas. Quinn went 97-89 over five seasons, leading the Storm to four playoff appearances and the 2021 Commissioner’s Cup title but falling short of expectations in 2024 after the arrivals of Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike.

Storm general manager Talisa Rhea described the coaching search as a chance to reset the franchise’s direction.

“I think we're looking for a leader, someone who can manage a group and really establish a new identity,” Rhea told ESPN last month. “There's a lot of uncertainty, and we're entering a new chapter, just kind of leaguewide, so excited for someone to really be able to put their mark on a team and build confidence, build team chemistry and build an identity on the court that will ultimately lead us to trying to compete for years to come.”

Raman inherits a roster that could look vastly different in 2026. All-Stars Diggins, Ogwumike, Brittney Sykes and Gabby Williams are all set to enter unrestricted free agency, part of a league-wide shift expected under a new collective bargaining agreement designed to raise player salaries.

Still, the Storm have a foundational talent to build around. Center Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, earned All-Rookie team honors as the youngest player in the league at age 19. Raman will be tasked with developing Malonga’s skill set while steering a competitive roster through free agency.

Raman’s familiarity with the Storm organization could ease her transition. Between her time in Memphis and New York, she spent time observing Seattle’s practices during the 2024 training camp. She also brings an analytical mindset and a collaborative coaching philosophy that mirrors the organization’s vision for sustainable success.

The hiring makes Seattle the latest WNBA team to tap a coach with NBA experience, following a recent trend of cross-league movement. Raman joins Natalie Nakase — hired last year by the Golden State Valkyries — as one of two Asian American women now leading WNBA franchises.

For Seattle, the move also closes a chapter of remarkable continuity. Quinn, who succeeded Dan Hughes midway through the 2021 season, had been the second-longest-tenured head coach in the league behind Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve. Her leadership bridged the Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart era to the franchise’s current retooling phase.

Assuming Diggins, Ogwumike and Williams return, Raman’s immediate challenge will be reviving Seattle’s half-court offense, which ranked 10th in points per possession outside of transition last season, according to GeniusIQ tracking data.

With a lottery pick from Los Angeles also on the way in 2026, Raman steps into a position that blends opportunity with expectation — to win now while shaping what comes next.

Her hiring leaves the Liberty as the lone WNBA team still searching for a head coach.