Seattle Storm

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For the soccer team of the same name, see Seattle Storm (soccer).
For current information on this topic, see
2008 Seattle Storm season
Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm logo
Conference Western Conference
Founded 2000
Arena KeyArena
City Seattle, Washington
Team Colors Dark Green, Red, Gold
Owner Force 10 Hoops L.L.C.
General Manager Karen Bryant
Head Coach Brian Agler
WNBA Championships 1 (2004)
Conference Titles 1 (2004)
Mascot Doppler [1]

The Seattle Storm is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Seattle, Washington. In 2004, led by Australian basketball star Lauren Jackson and University of Connecticut star Sue Bird, the team brought the city its first professional sports championship since 1979.

The team cultivates a fan-friendly, family environment at home games by having an all-kid dance squad, which leads young fans in a conga line on the court during time-outs, to the music of "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)" by the Quad City DJs. Named for the rainy weather of Seattle, the team uses many weather-related icons: the team mascot is Doppler [2], a maroon-furred creature with a cup anemometer on its head; the theme song for Storm home games is AC/DC's Thunderstruck; and its newsletter is called Stormwatch. Most KeyArena fans will not sit down until the Storm scores its first point of each half.

The Storm was the sister team of the Seattle SuperSonics until February 28, 2008, when the team was sold to an independent ownership group [3] in Seattle.

Uniforms:

  • At home, white with dark red and green trim, gold on the shoulders with the team name logo text on the chest in green. On the road, dark green with red and gold trim. The team logo is replaced by the city name in white logo text on the road.

Contents

[edit] Franchise history

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.

In the 2002 draft, the Storm drafted UConn star Sue Bird, filling the Storm's the 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 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 team's win brought a national professional sports championship to Seattle for the first time since the Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA title in 1979. The win also made Anne Donovan the first female head coach in WNBA history to win the WNBA Championship.

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 The Storm announced that Head coach, Anne Donovan had resigned. On January 9, 2008 Brian Agler was named head coach to replace Anne Donovan.

[edit] 2006 and 2008 Sales

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.[4]. 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 is approved by Seattle leaders before October 31, 2007. During this period of uncertainty, the Storm announced that they will play their 2008 WNBA season in Seattle at KeyArena.[5]

On January 8, 2008, Bennett sold the team to a local group of women called Force 10 Hoops, LLC, pending league approval [6]. The sale was given unanimous approval from the WNBA Board of Governors on February 28, 2008. [7] This keeps the team in Seattle, and disconnects it from the still-unsettled future of the Sonics.

[edit] Season-by-Season Records

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win–Loss %

Season W L  % Playoffs Results
Seattle Storm
2000 6 26 .188
2001 10 22 .313
2002 17 15 .531 Lost First Round Los Angeles 2, Seattle 0
2003 18 16 .529
2004 20 14 .588 Won First Round
Won Conference Finals
Won WNBA Finals		 Seattle 2, Minnesota 0
Seattle 2, Sacramento 1
Seattle 2, Connecticut 1
2005 20 14 .588 Lost First Round Houston 2, Seattle 1
2006 18 16 .529 Lost First Round Los Angeles 2, Seattle 1
2007 17 17 .500 Lost First Round Phoenix 2, Seattle 0
2008 3 1 0.750
Totals 129 141 .478
Playoffs 8 10 .444 1 WNBA Championship

Stats updated May 22, 2008

[edit] Players of note

A game against the Minnesota Lynx at Key Arena, home of the Storm
A game against the Minnesota Lynx at Key Arena, home of the Storm

[edit] Former players

[edit] Current Roster

Seattle Storm roster
v • d • e
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From
G 10 Flag of the United States Bird, Sue 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Connecticut
C 33 Flag of the United States Burse, Janell 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 199 lb (90 kg) Tulane
F 2 Flag of the United States Cash, Swin 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 162 lb (73 kg) Connecticut
F 0 Flag of the United States Ely, Shyra 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 182 lb (83 kg) Tennessee
G/F 4 Flag of the United States Gearlds, Katie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 184 lb (83 kg) Purdue
G Flag of the United States Hodges, Roneeka 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Florida State
F/C 15 Flag of Australia Jackson, Lauren 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 187 lb (85 kg) Australia
G 6 Flag of the United States Lewis, Doneeka 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Louisiana State
F 14 Flag of Senegal Ndiaye-Diatta, Astou 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) Southern Nazarene*
F 3 Flag of the United States Palmer, Wendy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Virginia
C 43 Flag of the United States Robinson, Ashley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Tennessee
G 30 Flag of the United States Wright, Tanisha 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Penn State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last change: 2008-04-20

[edit] Individual awards

WNBA MVP

WNBA Finals MVP

[edit] Coaches and others

Head Coaches:

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Seattle Storm 2004 WNBA Champions
v • d • e
Sports teams based in and around Seattle
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(NCAA Div. I)
Main Article: Sports in Seattle