Melanie Soverinsky, Seattle Storm PR
Jordan Horston described the basketball court as her outlet, the place where she feels fully and utterly herself. She followed that up with it being her place of work, every day the rookie works in a job doing what she loves. She’s one of the lucky ones, and the newcomer knows it.
“I’m blessed, I’m living my dream,” Horston said.
At three years old, Horston picked up her first basketball. She never put it down. The guard was immersed in the sport at a young age due to her father’s love for the game. He played at Capital University, a division II athletic institution and coached Horston and her older sister, Jazmin’s teams growing up.
The rookie dabbled in several sports up through high school but ultimately chose to focus on basketball because of the way it brought her and her father together.
“It allowed me and my dad to build a relationship and it brought us closer together,” Horston said.
Similar to Storm veteran Kia Nurse, Horston comes from a family line of professional athletes. Horston’s cousin is Sylvia Crawley, a former WNBA great who went on to coach at the collegiate and pro level. Joe Gilliam Jr. is her great uncle, who played with the Steeler’s in the early 1970’s, one of the first black quarterbacks to appear in the NFL.
Horston’s competitive nature fuels her willingness to improve and remains a driving factor in her success. Her constant urge to take it up a notch wherever she is needed allows her to demonstrate efficiency across the board.
“I bring versatility to this team,” Horston said. “I stretch the floor; I can guard anybody, and screen actions are an easy switch for me. I rebound, I crash hard and play defense long.”
The former Volunteer’s time at Tennessee prepared her for the fast-paced pro-environment in Seattle. She continues to adapt to the speed of the league and quick adjustment to the Pacific Northwest.
“Every day she’s getting better. The game is a bit fast for her right now, but she’s just so athletic,” head coach Noelle Quinn said. “There are so many qualities about her game that are exciting. She can elevate, rebound, and she can defend. If you can do that at a high level, you can find a role on a team. The offense will come once she gets comfortable.”
Quinn described Horston as a sponge, constantly absorbing what she’s told and then implementing it into practice. She’s eagerly working alongside the Storm’s vets and tweaking her approach based upon their advice.
“She’s still very much in this growth and molding process as it relates to being a pro,” Quinn said. “She’s open to learning and she does go hard. I have high expectations for her, but she has them for herself. She wants to do the right thing; she wants to be coached and a great teammate. I know she’s always going to be her best self and work her hardest and that’s all I can ask for.”
On Mar. 25, the Volunteer’s senior season came to a close following a crushing loss to Virginia Tech in the Sweet 16 at Climate Pledge Arena. Horston’s certain that she’s back at where her college career ended for a reason: to finish what she started.
“Everything that was supposed to happen did,” Horston said. “My season ended here and now another one is beginning here. It’s not ironic, God placed me here with these great people and I’m supposed to be here in this moment.”