2016 Seattle Storm season

The 2016 WNBA season was the 17th season for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season began on May 15 on the road against Los Angeles. The Storm would lose that game 66–96, but would rebound in the very next game to defeat Phoenix 81–80. The team would then lose two of its next three, including an overtime loss to Washington to finish May 2–3. They began June with a stretch of games where they went 1–3, only defeating Phoenix over that stretch. In their next four games, they went 1–3 again, defeating only Indiana. They finished the month 2–1, defeating Connecticut and Atlanta before losing to Dallas. The Storm finished June 4–7. They lost their first two games in July before defeating San Antonio. They would finish the month 2–3, defeating Washington and San Antonio again. They went into the Olympic break 9–15 and out of the playoff picture. However, upon the return from the break, they went 2–1 in August, defeating Los Angeles and Dallas while losing to Minnesota. They began September with a road loss against Chicago before winning four straight games. This run included three road victories and a home victory over Los Angeles. A defeat against Phoenix in the penultimate game left their playoff status in the air. The Storm defeated Chicago 88–75 in the final game of the season to secure a playoff berth. They finished the regular season 16–18 and tied for third place in the Western Conference.

The Storm earned the seventh seed in the 2016 WNBA playoffs by virtue of a tiebreaker over the Phoenix Mercury, having won the season series 2–1. As the seventh seed, they traveled to sixth-seed Atlanta for the first round. The Storm won the regular season series between the teams 2–1, but this record did not carry over into the Playoffs. The Storm led 45–37 at halftime, but the Dream won the game 94–85 to end Seattle's season. First overall pick Breanna Stewart was a highlight of the season as she led the team in points and rebounds, won Rookie of the Year, and was selected to the All-WNBA Second Team. The Storm had two other players make all-WNBA teams, with Sue Bird being selected to the First Team, and Jewell Loyd also being selected to the Second Team.