NRI Sonia Raman was appointed head coach for WNBA champions Seattle Storm.

Los Angeles/Nov 02, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

NRI Sonia Raman, has become the first person to be appointed as head coach in the WNBA, signing a multi-year deal with the Seattle Storm.

Raman, who earlier served as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies (2020–24) and most recently with the New York Liberty, brings years of top-tier coaching experience and analytical expertise to Seattle. Her appointment follows the dismissal of former head coach Noelle Quinn after the Storm’s first-round playoff exit against the Las Vegas Aces.

Seattle’s general manager Talisa Rhea praised Raman’s leadership and vision, calling her the ideal person to guide the franchise into a new era. The Storm are in a period of transition, with several All-Stars entering free agency and young center Dominique Malonga seen as a cornerstone for the future.

Raman’s historic hiring not only marks a milestone for Indian-origin professionals in U.S. sports but also reflects the WNBA’s growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Her arrival signals a new chapter for the four-time champions as they look to rebuild and return to title contention.

Biography....

• Born: February 11, 1974, in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA

• Parents: Indian immigrants — mother from Nagpur, father from Chennai

• School: Framingham High School, Massachusetts

• College: Tufts University (1992–1996), played as a walk-on guard on the basketball team

• Injury: Suffered a broken leg in junior year, which redirected her toward coaching

• Degrees:

  • B.A. in International Relations – Tufts University

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) – Boston College Law School (2001)

• College Basketball: Guard and team co-captain at Tufts in senior year
• Assistant Coach (Tufts University): 1996–1998
• Assistant Coach (Wellesley College): 2002–2008 — focused on recruiting, practice planning, and player development
• Became Head Coach of MIT Women’s Basketball in 2008
• MIT’s winningest coach in program history
• Led MIT to two NEWMAC Championships (2018, 2019) and NCAA Division III tournament appearances
• Named NEWMAC Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017
• Memphis Grizzlies (NBA): Hired as assistant coach in 2020 — first Indian-American woman to hold such a position in the NBA
  • Specialized in player development, analytics, and scouting
• New York Liberty (WNBA): Joined as assistant coach in 2025, bringing NBA experience to WNBA