Seattle Storm

A gloomy start (2000–2001)

The Storm's predecessor was the Seattle Reign, a charter member of the American Basketball League (ABL), operating from 1996 through December 1998, when the league folded. Luckier than most localities that had an ABL team, Seattle was quickly awarded a WNBA franchise and began play less than two years later.

The Seattle Storm would tip off their first season (the 2000 WNBA season) in typical expansion fashion. Coached by Lin Dunn and led by guard Edna Campbell and Czech center Kamila Vodichkova, the team finished with a 6–26 record. The low record, however, allowed the Storm to draft 19-year-old Australian standout Lauren Jackson. Though Seattle did not make the playoffs in the 2001 season, Jackson's impressive rookie performance provided a solid foundation for the franchise to build on.

Sue Bird's arrival and the road to the WNBA Finals (2002–2004)

Sue Bird, on offense

In the 2002 draft, the Storm drafted UConn star Sue Bird, filling the Storm's gap at the point guard position. With Bird's playmaking ability and Jackson's scoring and rebounding, the team made the playoffs for the first time in 2002, but were swept by the Los Angeles Sparks.

Coach Anne Donovan was hired for the 2003 campaign. In Donovan's first year, Jackson would win the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, but the team had a disappointing season (with Bird injured for much of the year), and the Storm missed the playoffs.

The 2004 Storm posted a then franchise-best 20–14 record. In the playoffs, the Storm made quick work of the Minnesota Lynx, sweeping them in the first round. The Storm then squared off against an up-and-coming Sacramento Monarchs team in the West Finals. The Storm would emerge victorious, winning the series 2–1. In the WNBA Finals, the Storm would finish off the season as champions, defeating the Connecticut Sun 2 games to 1. Betty Lennox was named MVP of the Finals. The win made Anne Donovan the first female head coach in WNBA history to win the WNBA Championship.

A consistent postseason contender (2005–2009)

Key players from the Storm's championship season were not on the team in 2005. Vodichkova, Tully Bevilaqua, and Sheri Sam moved on to other teams. In addition, the pre-season injury of Australian star and new acquisition Jessica Bibby hampered the team's 2005 season. While they matched their 2004 record and made the playoffs, the Storm's title defense was stopped in the first round by the Houston Comets, 2 games to 1.

In 2006, the Storm would finish 18–16, good enough to make the playoffs. The Storm put up a good fight in the first round against the Sparks, but would fall short 2–1. In 2007, the Storm would finish .500 (17–17), good enough to make the playoffs in a weak Western Conference. The Storm would be quickly swept out of the playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury.

On November 30, 2007, Anne Donovan resigned as head coach, and was replaced by Brian Agler on January 9, 2008.^[6][7]

Although most of Seattle's major sports teams endured poor seasons during 2008, the Storm would be the only standout team in Seattle that year, posting a franchise-best 22–12 record and finishing with a 16–1 record at home, also a franchise-best. But the No. 2 seeded Storm lost to the #3 Los Angeles Sparks in the first round of the playoffs in three games, and ended Seattle's season at 23–14 overall.

In 2009, the Storm were 20–14 and finished second in the Western Conference for the second straight year. In the playoffs, the Storm again lost to the #3 Los Angeles Sparks in 3 games, which ended their season in the first round for the fifth consecutive season.

A second championship (2010)

In the 2010 season, the Storm were almost unstoppable with a record-tying 28 wins and 6 losses in the regular season, including a perfect 17–0 at KeyArena. This was the most home wins in the history of the WNBA.

Along the way, Lauren Jackson was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week five times, and Western Conference Player of the Month three times, on her way to being named WNBA MVP for the third time. Agler was also named Coach of the Year.

In the playoffs, the Storm dramatically reversed their fortunes from the previous five seasons. They started with a sweep of the Sparks, the team that previously knocked them out of the playoffs every time they met. Then they swept Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury in the conference finals, and the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Finals. With two league championships, the Storm became Seattle's most successful pro sports team by that measure.

Postseason pains (2011–2014)

With the same lineup as the previous year, the Storm had much expectation for the 2011 WNBA season. But right in the second round a two-year home invincibility was broken by the Minnesota Lynx, who even left the Storm scoreless for the first seven minutes.^[8] Injuries hit multiple players, especially Lauren Jackson, who had to undergo hip surgery and missed most of the season. The regular starting five resumed play only in the last five games, but Sue Bird and Swin Cash kept the Storm competitive, finishing second in the WNBA with 21 wins and 13 losses. On the playoffs, a Mercury buzzer beater at the KeyArena eliminated the Storm in round 1.^[9]

In 2012, with Jackson absent for the early season training with the Australia national team and injuries to most of the team, including Bird, only Camille Little and Katie Smith played on all the games of the regular season. Upon her return, Jackson missed some games due to a hamstring injury, but reached 6,000 points on her WNBA career playing against the San Antonio Silver Stars. The 16-18 record put the Storm fourth in the West, facing the Lynx, who posted the league's best record during the regular season, in the playoffs.^[10] While the Storm managed to force a game 3 by winning in the KeyArena at double overtime, a last-second attempt by Jackson went off the rim and the Lynx took the series winning by just one point, 73-72.^[11]

After losing in the first round of the 2013 playoffs to the Lynx following a .500 regular season, the Storm missed the playoffs in 2014. This was the first time the Storm missed the playoffs since 2003.

Loyd/Stewart Era, third championship (2015–present)

Following seven-year head coach & GM Brian Agler's hiring in Los Angeles, the Storm elevated President Alisha Valavanis to President & GM, and two weeks later, hired Jenny Boucek as the fourth head coach in franchise history. Valavanis and Boucek promptly got to work, trading Shekinna Stricklen and Camille Little to the Connecticut Sun for the #3 and #15 2015 WNBA draft picks, along with Renee Montgomery. Storm free agent Tanisha Wright signed with the New York Liberty, and a month later, Valavanis shipped the #15 pick to the Mystics for Quanitra Hollingsworth and the #20 pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft. Valavanis also signed Australian forward Abby Bishop that month.

Fast forward to April 2015, the month of the WNBA Draft, where Seattle now held the #1, #3, #20 and #26 picks. Days before the draft, Notre Dame guard Jewell Loyd and Minnesota center Amanda Zahui B. shook up the draft order, both forgoing NCAA eligibility and declaring for the WNBA Draft. On April 16, 2015, Seattle drafted Jewell Loyd #1, UCONN sharpshooter Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis #3, Vicky McIntyre #20 and Nneka Enemkpali #26 in the 2015 WNBA Draft. In the 2015 WNBA season, despite missing out on the playoffs with a 10-24 record, the number-one drafted Jewell Loyd would win the Rookie of the Year Award.

After having the worst record in the WNBA, the Storm ended up with the first overall pick again using it to select Breanna Stewart from the University of Connecticut. In the 2016 WNBA season, Stewart immediately emerged as one of the young rising stars in the league, winning Rookie of the Year, averaged an impressive 18.9 ppg and broke the record for most defensive rebounds in a regular season. Loyd would statistically improve, averaging 16.5 ppg, birthing a new, young dynamic tandem as the "Next Great Storm Duo" after Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson.^[12] This would lead the Storm back into playoff contention as they finished as the 6th seed with a 16-18 record under the league's new playoff format, but would lose to the Atlanta Dream in the first round elimination game.

In the 2017 season, both Loyd and Stewart continued to get better and lead the Storm into playoff contention. Loyd averaged 17.7 ppg and Stewart 19.9 ppg. Stewart would become an all-star for the first time in her career, and was one of two all-stars representing the Storm in the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game along with Sue Bird. The Storm finished as the 8th seed with a 15-19 record but would lose yet again in the first round elimination game by the Phoenix Mercury.

In the 2018 season, the Storm would elevate from a mediocre playoff team to a title contender. In the offseason they made some slight changes to the roster. They traded for Natasha Howard and drafted Jordin Canada. Bird, Loyd and Stewart were all voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game, creating a "big three" on the Storm's roster. Bird also broke records in 2018 by becoming the franchise leader in scoring and the league's all-time regular season assists leader. With Bird's leadership, and the continued development of Loyd and Stewart, the Storm finished 26-8 with the number 1 seed headed into the WNBA Playoffs. They would receive a double bye to the semi-finals. Stewart who averaged 20.0 ppg and 8.8 rpg won the 2018 Most Valuable Player award. They faced the Phoenix Mercury in the semi-finals where Stewart averaged 24.0 ppg and Loyd added 11.0 ppg. They would defeat the Mercury in a hard-fought five game series, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2010. In the Finals, the Storm would sweep their opponent, the Washington Mystics, winning their first championship in 8 years, Stewart was named Finals MVP.

Logo

Original team logo, 2000-2015

The logo features an iconic Seattle landmark, the Space Needle, set against the backdrop of a storm cloud. In dynamic font and fashion, the team name stretches in an angled rise from left to right. Pointed jags meant to evoke lightning bolts streak through the team name from right to left. A basketball orbits the Space Needle through the cloud.

In January 2016, the team revealed a branding update with a change to the official team colors. The logo retains the same design but uses the new color scheme.^[14]

Team colors

Like a number of early WNBA teams, the Storm were owned by their NBA counterpart, the Seattle SuperSonics, and closely related to the team. Taking their cue from the Sonics' team colors at the time, known colloquially as the "wine and pine" era of the team, the Storm's original team colors were pine green, maroon red, bronze, and white. When a new ownership group led by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz purchased the Sonics and Storm in 2001, the NBA club rebranded with the traditional green and golden yellow colors that had identified the team for the majority of its 41 years. The Storm, however, retained their colors as a way to uniquely market the team. Following another change of ownership in 2006, the team was then sold to Force 10 Hoops LLC in 2008 when the Oklahoma City interests that owned the Sonics announced intentions to relocate the NBA club to the Sooner State. Force 10 also retained the original colors.

The January 2016 branding update changed the official team colors. Adopting a scheme similar to their former NBA brother team, the new colors are green and yellow. White and grey will feature as accent colors.^[14]

2006 and 2008 sales

A game against the Los Angeles Sparks at KeyArena, home of the Storm

Following disagreements between the Basketball Club of Seattle (the former owners of the Sonics and Storm) and the city of Seattle concerning the need to renovate the KeyArena, the Seattle SuperSonics and the Seattle Storm were sold to an Oklahoma City group led by Clay Bennett on July 18, 2006.^[15] Bennett made it clear that the Sonics and Storm would move to Oklahoma City at some point after the 2007–08 NBA season, unless an arena for the Sonics was approved by Seattle leaders before October 31, 2007. During this period of uncertainty, the Storm announced that they would play their 2008 WNBA season in Seattle at KeyArena.^[16]

On January 8, 2008, Bennett sold the team to a Seattle group of women called Force 10 Hoops, LLC.^[17] The sale was given unanimous approval from the WNBA Board of Governors on February 28, 2008.^[18] This kept the team in Seattle and disconnected it from the Sonics. The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in July, during the WNBA season.

Uniform sponsor

On April 21, 2010, the Storm and the WNBA announced a sponsor agreement with Bing, a search engine from Microsoft, to place the company's logo on their jerseys for the 2010 season.^[19][20] The Bing sponsorship ended after the 2013 season, and the Storm played without a sponsor for two seasons, before signing a new uniform deal with Swedish Medical Center for the 2016 season.

Championship ring for President

In June 2011, President of the United States Barack Obama invited the 2010 WNBA champion Seattle Storm to the White House. He stated that the franchise provided a good example for young girls with big dreams. He praised the Storm for the community service they perform and stated that being champions did not end when they step off the court. The Storm presented the President with a championship ring.^[21]

Temporary move to the University of Washington

With KeyArena to be closed during its renovation into a venue suitable for a potential NHL team,^[22] the Storm were forced to seek a temporary venue for their 2019 season. After considering two suburban venues, ShoWare Center in Kent and Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, the team announced in August 2018 that its primary home in 2019 would be in the city of Seattle at the University of Washington's Alaska Airlines Arena.^[23][24] While the arena will become the Storm's primary home during the renovation, there is no guarantee that it will be available for Storm playoff games, and it is possible that some home games will be played at other venues in the region. Since Washington's arena lacks air conditioning, and the WNBA requires that all games be played in air-conditioned venues, portable air conditioning units will be used during Storm games.^[23]

Current roster

Seattle Storm roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs G 10 Bird, Sue 5' 9" (1.75m) 150 lb (68kg) 10-16-1980 Connecticut 15 G 21 Canada, Jordin 5' 6" (1.68m) – 08-11-1995 UCLA R F 32 Clark, Alysha 5' 11" (1.8m) 167 lb (76kg) 07-07-1987 Middle Tennessee 6 F 6 Howard, Natasha 6' 2" (1.88m) 165 lb (75kg) 09-02-1991 Florida State 4 F/C 1 Langhorne, Crystal 6' 2" (1.88m) 185 lb (84kg) 10-27-1986 Maryland 10 G 24 Loyd, Jewell 5' 10" (1.78m) 148 lb (67kg) 10-05-1993 Notre Dame 3 F 23 Mosqueda-Lewis, Kaleena 5' 11" (1.8m) 180 lb (82kg) 11-03-1993 Connecticut 3 C 3 Paris, Courtney 6' 4" (1.93m) 250 lb (113kg) 97-21-1987 Oklahoma 8 G 45 Quinn, Noelle 6' 0" (1.83m) 178 lb (81kg) 01-03-1985 UCLA 11 G 2 Russell, Mercedes 6' 6" (1.98m) – 07-27-1995 Tennessee R F 30 Stewart, Breanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 170 lb (77kg) 08-27-1994 Connecticut 2 G/F 33 Whitcomb, Sami 5' 10" (1.78m) 145 lb (66kg) 07-20-1988 Washington 1 East: ATL • CHI • CON • IND • NY • WAS | West: DAL • LV • LA • MIN • PHO • SEA	Head coach Dan Hughes (Muskingum) Assistant coaches Gary Kloppenburg (UC San Diego) Crystal Robinson (Southeastern Oklahoma State University) Athletic trainer Tom Spencer (Central Washington) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured WNBA roster page

Other rights owned

Nat.	Name	Years pro	Last played	Drafted
	Silvia Dominguez	0	N/A	N/A
	Jana Vesela	1	2010	N/A

Former players

• Angela Aycock (2000)
• Adia Barnes (2002-2004)
• Quacy Barnes (2000-2001)
• Tully Bevilaqua (2003–2004)
• Sandy Brondello (2003), now the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury and the Australia national team
• Janell Burse (2004–2007, 2009)
• Edna Campbell (2000)
• Swin Cash (2008–2011)
• Izi Castro Marques (2005–2007)
• Michelle Edwards (2000-2001)
• Simone Edwards (2000–2005)
• Andrea Garner (2000)
• Michelle Greco (2004)
• Yolanda Griffith (2008)
• Sonja Henning (2000–2002)
• Katrina Hibbert (2000) * Scored the franchise's first points
• Lauren Jackson (2001–2012)
• Shannon Johnson (2009)
• Betty Lennox (2004–2007)
• Camille Little (2008–2014), now a member of the Phoenix Mercury
• Stacey Lovelace (2000-2001)
• Michelle Marciniak (2001–2002)
• Danielle McCulley (2002-2003)
• Renee Montgomery (2015), now a member of the Atlanta Dream
• Wendy Palmer (2006–2007)
• Jamie Redd (2000-2002)
• Semeka Randall (2001–2002)
• Angel Robinson (2014–2016)
• Ashley Robinson (2006-2011, 2013)
• Sheri Sam (2004)
• Charisse Sampson (2000)
• Alessandra Santos de Oliveira (2001)
• Charmin Smith (2000–2001), now associate head coach for California Golden Bears
• Katie Smith (2011–2012), now head coach of the New York Liberty
• Katy Steding (2001)
• Sheryl Swoopes (2008)
• Alicia Thompson (2004–2005)
• Tina Thompson (2012-2013), now head coach for the Virginia Cavaliers
• Robin Threatt (2000)
• Le'coe Willingham (2010–2011)
• Tanisha Wright (2005–2014), now a member of the Minnesota Lynx
• Kamila Vodichkova (2000–2004)

Retired numbers

Owners

• Bill and Ginger Ackerley, owners of the Seattle SuperSonics (2000–2001)^[27][28]
• Howard Schultz, owner of the Seattle SuperSonics (2001–2006) ^[29]
• Clay Bennett, owner of the Seattle SuperSonics (2007) ^[29]
• Force 10 Hoops LLC, composed of Dawn Trudeau, Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder (2008–present)^[30]

Head coaches

General managers

• Lin Dunn (2000–2002)
• Billy McKinney (2002–2003)
• Karen Bryant (2004–2010)
• Brian Agler (2011–2014)
• Alisha Valavanis (2015–present)

Directors of player personnel

• Anne Donovan (2004–2007)
• Brian Agler (2008–2010)

Assistant coaches

• Kathy Anderson (2000–2001)
• Missy Bequette (2000–2001)
• Gary Kloppenburg (2000–2002, 2017–present)
• Carrie Graf (2002)
• Jenny Boucek (2003–2005, 2010–2014)
• Jessie Kenlaw (2003–2006)
• Heidi VanDerveer (2006–2007)
• Shelley Patterson (2007–2009)
• Nancy Darsch (2008–2013)
• Shaquala Williams (2014)
• Rob Fodor (2015)
• Ryan Webb (2015–2017)
• Leah Drury (2016)
• Crystal Robinson (2018–present)

Regular season attendance

• A sellout for a basketball game at KeyArena is 17,072.
• A sellout for a basketball game at the team's 2019 home of Alaska Airlines Arena is 10,000.

Draft picks

• 2000 Expansion Draft: Edna Campbell (2), Sophia Witherspoon (7), Angela Aycock (10), Nina Bjedov (15), Toni Foster (18), Charmin Smith (23)
• 2000: Kamila Vodichkova (9), Charisse Sampson (25), Kirra Jordan (41), Katrina Hibbert (57)
• 2001: Lauren Jackson (1), Semeka Randall (17), Juana Brown (49)
• 2002: Sue Bird (1), Lucienne Berthieu (19), Felicia Ragland (28), Takeisha Lewis (35),
• 2003 Miami/Portland Dispersal Draft: Alisa Burras (9)
• 2003: Jung Sun-min (8), Suzy Batkovic (22), Chrissy Floyd (37)
• 2004 Cleveland Dispersal Draft: Betty Lennox (6)
• 2004: Catrina Frierson (19)
• 2005: Tanisha Wright (12), Ashley Battle (25), Steffanie Blackmon (38)
• 2006: Barbara Turner (11), Dalila Esche (25), Erin Grant (39)
• 2007 Charlotte Dispersal Draft: Tye'sha Fluker (7)
• 2007: Katie Gearlds (7), Brandie Hoskins (33)
• 2008: Allie Quigley (22), Kimberly Beck (36)
• 2009 Houston Dispersal Draft: selection waived
• 2009: Ashley Walker (12), Mara Freshour (38)
• 2010 Sacramento Dispersal Draft: Chelsea Newton (10)
• 2010: Alison Lacey (10), Tanisha Smith (22), Tijana Krivacevic (34)
• 2011: Jasmine Thomas (12), Ify Ibekwe (24), Krystal Thomas (36)
• 2012: Shekinna Stricklen (2), Keisha Hampton (22)
• 2013: Tianna Hawkins (6), Chelsea Poppens (18), Jasmine James (30)
• 2014: Bria Hartley (7), Michelle Plouffe (19), Mikaela Ruef (31)
• 2015: Jewell Loyd (1), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (3), Vicky McIntyre (20), Nneka Enemkpali (26)
• 2016: Breanna Stewart (1), Lexi Eaton Rydalch (26)
• 2017: Alexis Peterson (15), Lanay Montgomery (30)
• 2018: Jordin Canada (5), Teana Muldrow (29)

Trades

• May 27, 2000: The Storm traded a third-round pick in the 2001 Draft to the Houston Comets in exchange for Andrea Gardner.
• June 11, 2000: The Storm traded the rights to Nina Bjedov to the Cleveland Rockers for Michelle Edwards.
• April 24, 2001: The Storm traded Edna Campbell and a fourth-round pick in the 2002 Draft to the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for Katy Steding and a second-round pick in the 2002 Draft.
• June 17, 2002: The Storm traded Sonja Henning to the Houston Comets in exchange for Amanda Lassiter.
• May 21, 2003: The Storm traded a third-round pick in the 2004 Draft to the Houston Comets in exchange for Rita Williams.
• April 15, 2004: The Storm traded the 6th pick in the 2004 Draft and Amanda Lassiter to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Sheri Sam and Jannel Burse.
• June 29, 2006: The Storm traded Cisti Greenwalt and a second-round pick in the 2007 Draft to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Ashley Robinson.
• February 19, 2008: The Storm traded the 4th pick in the 2008 Draft to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Swin Cash.
• June 22, 2008: The Storm traded a second-round pick in the 2009 Draft to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Camille Little.
• April 11, 2011: The Storm traded Jasmine Thomas and a first-round pick in the 2012 Draft to the Washington Mystics, and Erin Phillips and a third-round pick in the 2012 Draft to the Indiana Fever in exchange for Jacinta Monroe and Katie Smith from Washington, and a third-round pick in the 2012 Draft from Indiana.
• January 2, 2012: The Storm traded Swin Cash, Le'coe Willingham, and the 23rd pick in the 2012 Draft to the Chicago Sky in exchange for the second pick in the 2012 Draft.
• February 14, 2012: The Storm traded Ashley Robinson to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Victoria Dunlap.
• March 27, 2014: The Storm traded Ewelina Kobryn to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Charde Houston.
• April 14, 2014: The Storm traded Tianna Hawkins and Bria Hartley to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Crystal Langhorne.
• January 28, 2015: The Storm traded Camille Little and Shekinna Stricklen to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Renee Montgomery and the third and fifteenth overall picks in the 2015 Draft.
• February 23, 2015: The Storm traded the fifteenth overall pick in the 2015 Draft to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Quanitra Hollingsworth and the twentieth overall pick in the 2015 Draft.
• July 20, 2015: The Storm traded Renee Montgomery to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Monica Wright.
• June 25, 2016: The Storm traded Angel Robinson to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Noelle Quinn.
• January 30, 2017: The Storm execute a three-way trade with the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, receiving Carolyn Swords from the Liberty, sending the Mystics their #6 overall pick in the 2017 Draft, and swapping 2017 second-round picks with the Mystics (with the Storm now at #15 and the Mystics at #18).
• February 7, 2018: The Storm traded the 17th pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft and the right to swap first round picks in the 2019 WNBA Draft to the Minnesota Lynx for Natasha Howard.

All-Stars

• 2000: None
• 2001: Lauren Jackson
• 2002: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson
• 2003: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson
• 2004: Sue Bird
• 2005: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson
• 2006: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson
• 2007: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson
• 2008: No All-Star Game
• 2009: Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Lauren Jackson
• 2010: Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Lauren Jackson
• 2011: Sue Bird, Swin Cash
• 2012: No All-Star Game
• 2013: Tina Thompson
• 2014: Sue Bird
• 2015: Sue Bird
• 2016: No All-Star Game
• 2017: Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart
• 2018: Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart

Olympians

• 2004: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson (AUS)
• 2008: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson (AUS)
• 2012: Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson (AUS)
• 2016: Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Ramu Tokashiki (JPN)

Honors and awards