International basketball represents the pinnacle of athletic honor for many European players. The chance to wear your country’s colors and compete for continental glory drives athletes to make enormous sacrifices throughout their careers. That’s why Gabby Williams’ decision to skip EuroBasket 2025 with France shocked the basketball world.
Now the Seattle Storm star has finally explained why she chose WNBA team loyalty over international dreams.
Why Did Gabby Williams Choose Seattle Over France?
Back in May, news broke that Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams would not be joining the French national team for EuroBasket. Instead, she chose to remain stateside and focus on her commitments with the Storm.
Gabby Williams said she won’t participate in EuroBasket this summer.
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) May 11, 2025
While many speculated on the reasons, the 28-year-old recently set the record straight on an episode of the “Good Game with Sarah Spain podcast.”
“Unfortunately, [Seattle] had three ACL tears in the offseason, and I just couldn’t bring myself to leave us with like 8 or 9 active players because the league’s salary cap wouldn’t allow us to bring somebody else.”
She continued, “And even before I came to Seattle, you know, they were open and they were okay with me going to EuroBasket if it was really like my dream. But I couldn’t do that to my teammates — and especially after what Seattle has done for me. It didn’t make sense for me to go,” said Williams during the podcast.
Gabby Williams on skipping Eurobasket:
“Unfortunately, we [Seattle] had three ACL tears in the offseason and I just couldn’t bring myself to leave us with like 8 or 9 active players because the league’s salary cap wouldn’t allow us to bring somebody else…”
Credit: @SarahSpain pic.twitter.com/0O8Rk9nofY
— christan (no i), ß (@ChristanWNBA) July 29, 2025
Williams’ reasoning goes deeper than simple loyalty. The WNBA’s strict salary cap creates tight restrictions on rosters that limit teams’ flexibility during the season. Teams like the Storm can’t simply plug in replacements without navigating complex financial and contractual obstacles.
During the season, signings are only allowed under specific hardship exceptions, such as when the active roster dips below a threshold due to injury. Williams understood that if she left for EuroBasket, the team would be dangerously shorthanded with no reliable way to fill her spot.
How Did Williams’ Absence Impact France’s EuroBasket Performance?
The French national team felt Williams’ absence during this year’s Women’s EuroBasket tournament. France failed to reach the finals and finished fourth overall, losing the third-place game to Italy with a final score of 69-54.
While it’s impossible to know if her presence would have changed the outcome, her versatility and experience were clearly missed.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenge Williams faces in balancing national team duties with WNBA commitments. Before joining Seattle in 2022, she played a key role for France in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
However, her Olympic participation meant she missed the Chicago Sky’s training camp that season, showing the constant trade-offs international players must make.
During the 2025 offseason, Seattle signed Williams to a one-year, $225,000 contract. She’s currently averaging 12.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while helping the Storm maintain a solid 16-11 record.
The team is coming off a gritty win against the Connecticut Sun on July 28, and at this stage of the season, every game matters and every player’s presence counts toward playoff positioning.
Williams’ decision ultimately came down to honoring Seattle’s commitment to her when they welcomed her to the organization.
The Storm’s faith in her abilities and their understanding of her international aspirations created a debt of loyalty she couldn’t ignore, even when it meant sacrificing a chance to represent France on one of basketball’s biggest stages.
