Every woman hooper dreams of making it to the WNBA, and former Michigan Wolverines guard Jordan Hobbs was no different. When Cathy Engelbert called her name as the 34th overall pick by the Seattle Storm, it felt like a dream come true. She had made it to the W. But, sadly, that dream was short-lived–at least for now.
In the whirlwind world of the transfer portal, Hobbs stayed loyal to Michigan and improved year after year. She developed from a role player into a go-to scorer, starting every game in her final two seasons. A proven winner, Hobbs became one of just five players in Michigan women’s basketball history to make the NCAA Tournament four times. Off the court, she was just as impressive–earning Academic All-Big Ten honors three times while majoring in business administration at the prestigious Ross School of Business. And with three freshmen in the starting lineup, Hobbs embraced her role as a leader.
All signs pointed toward a promising start to her WNBA journey. But just a week into her time with the Storm, those hopes took a hit. News broke that the talented 21-year-old had been waived. With that, it’s a good time to take a closer look at the contract situation with Storm.
What was Jordan Hobbs’ contract with the Seattle Storm?
Hobbs entered the 2025 WNBA Draft coming off a strong senior season, where she averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. She saved her best for when it mattered most—dropping a career-high 28 points in Michigan’s Round of 64 win over Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament. It’s no wonder the Seattle Storm saw potential and took a chance on her in the draft.
After being selected by the Seattle Storm in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Jordan Hobbs signed a rookie-scale contract with the franchise. According to Spotrac, it was a three-year deal that included a team option for an extension. She was set to earn a total of $204,253 over the duration of the contract, with an average annual salary of $68,084.
What was Jordan Hobbs’ salary for the 2025 WNBA season?
According to Sportac, Jordan Hobbs was set to earn a base salary of $66,079 in the 2025 season. For those who may not know how the waiver system works in the WNBA–here’s a quick breakdown. When a player is waived, they’re placed on waivers for 48 hours. During that period, any team in the league can claim them, but they must agree to take on the full terms of that player’s contract. That’s exactly why immediate pickups are pretty rare. If no team makes a move within those 48 hours, the player officially clears waivers and becomes a free agent, free to sign with any franchise under new terms.
As for the endorsements, Hobbs doesn’t seem to have landed anything on the resume yet. There weren’t any notable NIL deals that would carry on to her pro career, either. But the guard is only just beginning.
Why was Jordan Hobbs waived by the Seattle Storm?
Hobbs grabbed three rebounds, snagged a steal, and missed both of her field goal attempts in her five minutes on the court during the Storm’s preseason clash with Connecticut. Five minutes. That’s all she got. Then, the franchise made the tough call to waive her. It’s a harsh reality of the game. But honestly, you can’t fault the Seattle Storm for it.
The team entered the training camp with 16 on the roster. There are just 156 roster spots across the WNBA. With only 13 teams, each allowed 11 to 12 players, it’s a tight squeeze. The Storm already have enough guard depth, 2 in the form of protected players. So yeah, spots don’t come easy. Unlike the NBA, there’s no G League to lean on to either. That makes it even harder for rookies like Jordan Hobbs to break in.
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