Nearly three days after re-signing with the Seattle Storm, Gabby Williams has hit the hardwood for a practice session. “It feels like home,” she said, having been a part of the roster before leaving for the French National team. However, playing for France wasn’t the only reason behind her decision. It was the WNBA’s prioritization rule that urged her to leave. Almost a year later, Williams is back in the league, stronger and bolder. However, deep in her heart, she still feels dissatisfaction with the WNBA’s prevailing rule.

It was last season that the WNBA set up the prioritization rule, requiring players to prioritize WNBA over other International leagues. Williams, an active member of Fenerbahçe and LDLC ASVEL Féminin last season, apart from the French National roster, isn’t a fan of the new implementation.

“Well, we know it’s a select amount of owners. We know, we can guess who those owners are. I could say their names, but I’ll be classy… it shouldn’t be a blanket rule—I don’t understand it,” Williams said in a press conference on August 23rd. For her, the rule must go “hand in hand with the money” players in the league make, because “America is not the entire world.”

Well, this wouldn’t be the first time she has expressed her distaste with the rule.

“I still think the prioritization thing is ridiculous. I’m sorry, I’ll say it. Like literally, I’m only here because I got concussed,” she told reporters after making it to the French roster. Since she had off-season playing commitments, she was obligated to leave. But as all of those concluded by May 1st, she was once again eligible to sign with WNBA teams after the Olympics, and that’s why she’s here once again.

Will Storm let Williams remain unaffected by the ‘Prioritization’ rule?

Though Williams has recommitted to the Seattle Storm, the sword of prioritization still looms over her. Gabby, being a free agent and exempt from the team’s roster at the beginning of the season, stayed unaffected by the rule. Had she been on the team, though, she would not have been eligible to sign with the Seattle Storm this season.

The rule dictates players with over two years of WNBA experience must report to their training camps before the deadline to be eligible to play for the upcoming season. As for Williams, her availability has yet to be affected by the rule in place.

For what comes next, she has reportedly agreed to re-sign with the franchise if they are not to designate her a core player, eventually allowing her to be an unrestricted free agent in 2025. But for now, “We’re just going to focus on finishing the season,” she says. While Williams has yet to play for the Storm this season, she’s already a strength to the roster.

But will her contract restrict her from being a free agent? Stay tuned to find out.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.