Former Indiana Star Signs with Seattle Storm

Mackenzie Holmes, the 26th pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, signed her first contract with the Seattle Storm, the team announced Thursday. 

Holmes was selected in the draft after leaving Indiana as potentially the most decorated player in program history, finishing first in points, field goals made, field goal percentage, and wins in program history. She also finished second all time in blocks, third in points per game, and third in rebounding in program history. 

The former Hoosier standout missed all of the 2024 season after undergoing a procedure on her knee. 

Holmes was plagued by knee troubles at Indiana, but had always opted for minor repairs that would get her back on the court as quickly as possible. Ahead of her professional career, she opted for a more invasive procedure that cost her an entire season in hopes of returning fully healthy. 

She's spent her time recovering as a graduate manager for Teri Moren's 2024-25 team, though her former coach misses her on the court. Following Indiana's loss at Michigan earlier this week, Moren reflected on how the team's offense had become reliant on Holmes as a passer and scorer inside and how this group was struggling in her absence. 

It'd be hard to fault Moren for relying on Holmes as she did though. During her time in Bloomington, Holmes was one of the most dominant players not just in Indiana history, but nationally. Following her 2023 season, she was named to the Associated Press All-America First team and was also a Wooden Award finalists. She was the first All-American player in program history, also being a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team and All-Big Ten Defensive Team. 

That season, she averaged 22.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, before following it up with a final season in Bloomington that saw her average 19.8 points per game without ever being fully healthy. 

Before the 2023-24 season ended in the Sweet 16 to eventual champion, South Carolina, Holmes played a pivotal role in taking down no. 4 Iowa in front of a sold out Assembly Hall, one of the most memorable games in program history. Holmes had 24 points that game, plus four blocks, including a game-sealing stuff against Caitlin Clark, the no. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Per the Indy Star, Holmes is joining the Storm on a three-year deal with a fourth year team option.