Seattle Storm

Seattle Storm is a basketball franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 1999 and took to the start of the 2000 season on the game mode. The team colors are dark green, red and gold.

The name of the team, Storm, refers to the rainy weather of Seattle, where the franchise plays its home games in KeyArena. After a difficult start in the current game as the strongest women's basketball league in the world WNBA Seattle Storm 2004, the first win the championship. Another title followed in 2010, causing the team to the most successful active teams in the WNBA counts. The most successful players of the franchise are Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson, who play as a team since 2002 and 2001 respectively.

The franchise moved three times since its inception and was the owner until 2008, always together with the NBA team Seattle Supersonics owned by the same company. 2008 it became the seventh independent franchise of the league and has since been in possession of a Eigentümmergruppe around three local business women who secured the fate of the franchise in Seattle with the acquisition. The viewer average per home game is around 8000, with a record of 9,000 in 2000 and coincided with the exception of 2001, never less than 7,000 (as of 2011).

• 2.1 attendances

• 3.1 Sporting achievements
• 3.2 Individual Awards
• 3.3 All- WNBA Team and All-Defensive Team nominations
• 3.4 WNBA All- Star Game nominations
• 3.5 season statistics
• 3.6 Records 3.6.1 career
• 3.6.2 game

• 6.1 cadres of the Season 2013
• 6.2 first-round choice in the WNBA Draft Rights
• 6.3 Retraction jersey numbers
• 6.4 Members of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
• 6.5 Known former players

• 7.1 Team Name and Logo
• 7.2 mascots
• 7.3 Sponsorship
• 7.4 Media coverage
• 7.5 rivalries

History

Creation and start in the WNBA (1999 to 2000)

Due to the dissolution of the American Basketball League in 1998, the Seattle Reign had to suspend their gaming operations, which the city of Seattle was looking for a possible alternative to the Reign. After the announcement of the Women's National Basketball Association to expand the league in June 1999 by four teams, sent the then mayor of the city, Paul Schell, a letter to The Ackerley Group, former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics, with the request for a Women's basketball franchise to compete in the WNBA. In return, Schell was willing to reduce the rent for the KeyArena. While the company around Barry Ackerley was interested in the offer, but declined for the time being. Subsequently, The Ackerley Group tied a possible application for a WNBA franchise to four conditions. The city was prepared to meet three of the four points ( three points related solely to the income and expenditure in WNBA games ), however, rejected the demand for an independent event concerts at the KeyArena by The Ackerley Group. Despite this disagreement The Ackerley Group commissioned in June 1999 Karen Bryant with ensuring a WNBA franchise for the group of companies. Bryant was already previously served as General Manager of the Seattle Reign. In June 1999, announced Val Ackerman, then President of the WNBA that Seattle gets a WNBA franchise, provided that up to October 15, 1999 at least 5,500 season tickets sold. In July appointed the club management Lin Dunn, the Portland Power coached before, the first trainer and manager of the franchise.

On October 13 there was between the city of Seattle and The Ackerley Group after lengthy discussions, an agreement on the lease of KeyArena. In this context, the city of The Ackerley Group adopted a large part of the open costs that had arisen due to the lockout in the NBA season 1998/99. As of October 15 The Ackerley Group sold more than 7,200 season tickets ( 1,700 more than needed ), making the rest of the WNBA met and the establishment of a WNBA franchise for Seattle was backed up. When selling season tickets, there was also support from well-known personalities, so bought among other things, Gary Payton for himself and his family season tickets. In addition, an attempt was made to increase through targeted events ticket sales - for example dribbled Lin Dunn and Karen Bryant a WNBA basketball 5.5 miles (approx. 8.85 km ) through the city of Seattle. On 22 October, the establishment of all four new franchises was officially confirmed by the WNBA. After the successful establishment Draft with Edna Campbell, Sonja Henning, Angela Aycock, Nina Bjedov, Toni Foster and Charmin Smith were committed the first players in December at the expansion. At the beginning of 2000 the name of the franchise was announced with Storm. A few days after the announcement of the team name, the team logo was posted over 2,000 season ticket buyers in the KeyArena. On April 25 Seattle Storm took part for the first time at the WNBA Draft. By the ninth franchise, the franchise for the Czech Kamila Vodičková decided. In subsequent rounds, the team, among others, the rights to Charisse Sampson, Kirra Jordan and Katrina Hibbert secured.

The 2000 season began Seattle Storm - as usual expansion teams - with a sporty sparse squad. In the first WNBA game on May 31, 2000, the team the Sacramento Monarchs defeated with 60:76 points. Katrina Hibbert turned it the first field goal of the franchise 's history. Your First Home Match of the team already on the following day against the reigning champions from Houston. The home game in which the team mascot Doppler was introduced, won the Houston Comets with 77:47 in points. After the first four games were lost, the franchise, the first win was on June 13 in the away game against the Charlotte Sting. Four days later, the team won its first home game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The franchise won a total of only six of 32 games, ending the season as the worst team in the league.

Early years (2001 to 2002)

Before the start of the 2001 season Seattle Storm was, together with the Seattle SuperSonics for $ 200 million The Basketball Club of Seattle, a private investor group around Howard Schultz, sold. As the team finished last season with the worst record in the league, it the first franchise was awarded to the Draft 2001. The franchise decided the draft for the 19 - year-old Australian Lauren Jackson, who in Sydney drew attention to himself at the Summer Olympic Games in 2000 for the first time, as she led the Australian national basketball team to the finals. Lin Dunn said after the Draft on the Australian: " Lauren Jackson is not only the top player in this year's draft, she is one of the elite players in the world. " ( Corresponding translation: " Lauren Jackson is not only one of the best players in this year's drafts, it belongs to the elite players in the world. "). The second season began for the club with a home victory over the Phoenix Mercury. In this game, she scored 21 points with the most points. On July 11, the annual all-star game of the league was held at which Jackson was nominated as the first player of the franchise. Although Seattle Storm was started with four wins in the first six games well into the season, the final score was only ten wins in 32 games, which again represented the worst record in the league.

The order for the 2002 draft was determined on 13 November 2001 by the Draft Lottery. Since this is a weighted lottery, the club had to obtain due to the worst record in the league the best chance of the first suffrage and eventually won the lottery. We then opted for Sue Bird, the point guard from the University of Connecticut, and hoped that with the commitment a significant performance increase over the previous year. Although Bird was able to meet the expectations placed upon, the club started mediocre in the 2002 season. The regular season ended the franchise ultimately with 17 wins in 32 games, making it the first time, won the majority of his games. Thus, the team finished in fourth place in the Western Conference and thus qualified for the playoffs for the first time. There Seattle Storm met in the first round to the best-ranked in the seedings Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks won the series 2-0 clear games. Despite this defeat was a clear upward trend with reaching the playoffs and the solid performances of Jackson and Bird, both of which were nominated for the All-Star Game, recognizable.

On 13 September 2002 Dunn resigned as head coach and manager of Seattle Storm. As a result, Bill McKinney took over the post of the manager and was also charged with the coach search. Mid- December, the club management with Anne Donovan before the new coach of the franchise.

Winning the first championship (2003 to 2004)

Before the 2003 season, presented with the Miami Sol and Portland Fire two franchises their operation a game. The resolutions used the franchise by committing more players of the two teams. Due to the upheaval in the franchise, the expectations of Donovan was at the beginning of the season rather low. They even took the view that the team would take advantage of their full potential before June. After a weak start to the season, Seattle slowly worked before in the playoff ranks. Although the club the season again with a positive balance ended ( 18 wins in 34 games ), he qualified ultimately not for the playoffs. Jackson finished the season with an average of 21.2 points (best section of the league), as well as a rebound average of 9.3 ( fourth best section of the league). For her outstanding performance, she was awarded at the end of the season with the Most Valuable Player Award. Seattle Storm had during the season a lot of injuries, as played Bird, who was elected together with Jackson in the All- WNBA First Team and All-Star Game, most of the time with a knee injury. In addition, Kamila Vodičková had that played their best season ever, prematurely terminate the season due to a Supinationstraumas in the left foot.

Due to the resolution of the Cleveland Rockers a Dispersal Draft took place before the 2004 season once again be held, in which the remaining teams in the WNBA were able to secure the rights to the players of the Rockers. Seattle Storm opted for Betty Lennox, which was in 2000 awarded the Rookie of the Year Award. In addition, the franchise transferred his right to vote in the first round of the draft in 2004, together with Amanda Lassiter to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the experienced Sheri Sam and Janell Burse Center. With this exchange Donovan met its goal to commit an experienced winger and a replacement center for Vodičkováden in the event of injury-related failure. Most experts were of the view that the club will finish the season in the best case, in third place, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame Ann Meyers saw the franchise from Seattle only on the seventh and last place in the Western Conference. Similarly as in the previous season, the club dominated the majority of its home games, however, could hardly Away achieve success. The club secured the final with a game to end the regular season in second place in the Western Conference and thus performed significantly better than predicted. With the second place ( 20 wins in 34 games ), he qualified for the playoffs, where the club the Minnesota Lynx defeated in the first round 2-0. As a result, the franchise also won the Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Monarchs 2-1 in games. In the finals Seattle Storm hit the Connecticut Sun, who in the regular season had home advantage due to a better balance. Seattle beat Connecticut 2-1 in games and won for the first time the WNBA Championship. After the final game Lennox was named most valuable player of the finals series. In addition, Donovan was the first coach of the WNBA, which won a WNBA championship.

Moderate successes and sale of the franchise (2005 to 2009)

After winning the championship left with Kamila Vodičková, Tully Bevilaqua and Sheri Sam three key players the team. In return, the club management extended the contracts with Betty Lennox, Lauren Jackson and Janell Burse, who was advancing for Vodičková in the starting lineup. In addition, the club's management chose with Tanisha Wright at the twelfth position overall in the 2005 draft defensively strong player from. Despite the many outlets the franchise finished the regular season again in second place in the Western Conference ( 20 wins in 34 games ). After the last game of the regular season Donovan explained that her contract was extended with the Storm. In the playoffs, the franchise failed despite home advantage in the first round to the Houston Comets. In the course of the season were Bird, Jackson and Burse, who landed in the choice for most improved player of the season in second place, each appointed for player of the week. In addition, Bird and Jackson were elected to the All- WNBA First Team and in the starting lineup of the All- Star Games.

The season 2006 was compared to the previous two less successful. This was due mainly to the failure of several key players. In addition, Lauren Jackson could not retrieve their full potential because of a shin injury. Due to the small squad depth, the team was able to compensate for these losses is difficult. In the midst of the season honored the WNBA 's best players inside the first ten years, that list included with Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird, two players of the Seattle Storm. The regular season ended the franchise finally on the fourth ( 18 wins in 34 games ), and thus the last playoff spot. There, the club met in the first round to the best-ranked in the seedings Los Angeles Sparks, who decided the series 2-1 for itself. Away from the sport attended the sale of the franchise for headlines. The Basketball Club of Seattle sold the franchise together with the Seattle SuperSonics for $ 350 million to The Professional Basketball Club LLC, the ownership group from Oklahoma City. The former owner gave the renovation KeyArena as well as losses in the millions (in this context, it also highlighted the expensive to lease the venue ) as the main reasons for the sale of the franchise.

The 2007 season was very similar to the previous and Seattle Storm went through many ups and downs. The season was mainly characterized by the exceptional achievements of Lauren Jackson, who was appointed at the end of the season most valuable player and best defender. Although Jackson with the best average points ( 23.8 ) and rebound average ( 9.7 ) of the League completed a very successful season personally, the franchise came with 17 wins in 34 games is not over fourth place in the Western Conference also. While the club again most of its home games won (twelve home wins ), he left abroad mostly as a loser on the pitch. In the playoffs, Seattle resigned again in the first round, this time against the Phoenix Mercury. The less successful season was once again marked by many injuries, so missed Bird four games with a knee injury, while Burse had surgery on the left shoulder just before the end of the season and thus was not available in the playoffs. In addition, the attack game depended too much on Jackson and the rest of the players in the starting lineup, which achieved more than 85 % of the points. Shortly after the end of the season Donovan was despite an existing contract after five seasons as head coach of their resignation.

In January 2008, sold Clay Bennet, Chairman of The Professional Basketball Club, LLC, the franchise to an ownership group from Seattle, the Force 10 Hoops, LLC is called. This sale parted Seattle Storm of the SuperSonics, who were resettled in the meantime to Oklahoma City, and secured the fate of the franchise in Seattle. One day after the sale provided the club management with Brian Agler before the new head coach of the franchise. Even before the start of the 2008 season, the squad of the franchise changed noticeably, so it lost Betty Lennox in the expansion draft to the Atlanta Dream. This loss was compensated with the signing of All-Star Swin Cash, and the two former season MVPs Sheryl Swoopes and Yolanda Griffith over. Bird, Jackson, Cash, Swoopes and Grifith had jointly considered at this time nine WNBA championships won, received six MVP awards and participated in 26 All-Star games. To put the club in the 2008 season one of the strongest teams in the entire league. The regular season ended the franchise with 22 wins in 34 games, only just behind the San Antonio Silver Stars. In the playoffs, the club had already failed in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks with 1:2 in games.

After the disappointing from the first round of the playoffs, the club management built the squad to again, the contracts of Swoopes and Griffith were not renewed. In return the franchise extended the contract of Tanisha Wright and committed beyond point guard Shannon Johnson, Suzy Batkovic - Brown and Burse, which had suspended the 2008 season due to injury. The regular season ended, the club with 20 wins in 34 games again in second place in the Western Conference. In the first round Seattle met for the third time in four years on the Los Angeles Sparks. Without Jackson, who turned out for surgery on the ankle, the team did extremely difficult to score against the Sparks, and arbitration for the fifth time in a row in the first round. Despite the early exit, there were some positive developments within the franchise, as Wright became one of the best defenders in the league, which was also reflected in her first nomination in the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Bird finished the season with the highest average in assists ( 5.8 ) of the League and was honored as a peak performer. Furthermore, stood with Bird, Cash and Jackson first three Storm players in the starting lineup of All- Star Games, was named in the cash for valuable players.

Winning the second Cup (since 2010)

On 21 April 2010 announced the club's management that it has signed a long- term sponsorship agreement with Microsoft. This agreement secures loud Karen Bryant the franchise revenues in excess of one million dollars. This is with Bing, an Internet search engine of Microsoft, the first time a sponsor on the shirts of the Storm.

In the 2010 season the first time in a long time remained from a larger squad rebuilding. With 28 wins in 34 games and a temporary winning streak of 13 games, the franchise finished the regular season for the first time on the first place in the Western Conference. For this outstanding season Brian Agler was chosen as the first coach of the franchise coach of the year. In addition, Lauren Jackson was named for the third time into the most valuable player of the regular season. In the first playoff round, the team met for the fourth time in five years on the Los Angeles Sparks. In contrast to the previous three games, the team from Seattle this year went out as a winner. In the Western Conference Finals, the club began 2-0 in games against the Phoenix Mercury through and thereby created the first time since 2004, a place in the WNBA Finals, where the team met at Atlanta Dream. In the finals the franchise Atlanta Dream beat 3-0 in games and won for the second time the championship. For the most valuable player of the finals Lauren Jackson was appointed.

Before the 2011 season, the club management committed the seven-time All-Star Game participant Katie Smith of the Washington Mystics. As compensation, the Mystics Jasmine Thomas and a Erstrundenwahlrecht for the WNBA Draft 2012 received. Moreover, the contracts were extended by Camille Little and Swin Cash, making the starting lineup compared to the previous two seasons remained unchanged again. In the regular season, the Storm could not quite match the success of the previous one and ultimately finished the season behind the Minnesota Lynx in the second place in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, they eliminated in the first round, despite interim 1-0 lead with 1:2 in games against the Phoenix Mercury from.

During the 2011 season, Lauren Jackson announced that they in 2012 primarily on the national team and the Olympic Games would like to concentrate in London in 2012. Thus it was not the franchise in the entire first half of the season are available. With the knowledge that Jackson will strengthen the team in the second half of the season, the management decided to rejuvenate the squad. On 2 January 2012, the two veterans Swin Cash and Le'coe Willingham to the Chicago Sky for the second draft pick in the WNBA Draft in 2012 were transferred. With this exchange, the franchise managed to additional clearance to be prescribed by the League salary cap (salary cap), which the Board allowed a greater financial leeway on free agent market. The management of the Storm committed subsequently the two former All-Stars Ann Wauters and Tina Thompson. In addition, the franchise used to take the second draft pick to Shekinna Stricklen under contract. At the start of the season the team fell well short of expectations - there were seven of the first eight games lost. Nevertheless Agler remained calm and said to the press that the team will significantly increase in the further course yet. This statement should hold true when the team went to the Olympic break with a record of 9 wins and 10 defeats. After the break, the team could for the first time to draw on their full squad, but the franchise was placed at that time by far the top and to the rear teams at the fourth position in the table. The franchise finished the regular season with 16 wins in 34 games in fourth place, which they met in the playoffs to the Minnesota Lynx, who finished the regular season with the best record. The franchise lost against the Lynx, in a very balanced series, with 1:2 in games.

Venue

Seattle Storm plays its home games since its inception in the KeyArena, a 17,072 -seat hall, from. The arena was opened in 1962, 21 exposure under the name Washington State Pavilion at the World Exhibition Century. After the World's Fair, the hall was rebuilt and renamed the Washington State Coliseum. Between 1994 and 1995, the arena was completely renovated. On April 11, 1995, KeyCorp secured the naming rights to the arena, which changed the name of the stadium at KeyArena. The Storm shared the Arena until 2008 with the Seattle SuperSonics. At the moment, besides the Storm Seattle University Redhawks also carry the Rat City Rollergirls and their home games at the KeyArena from.

Attendances

In the first season visited an average of 8,912 spectators ( record, as of 2011) the home games of the Seattle Storm. Due to the moderate success in the first season the average attendance fell into the following season at an all time low of 5,954. After the franchise in 2001 and 2002 Sue Bird Lauren Jackson chose in the first place in the WNBA Draft increased the quality of the team significantly, which also had a positive impact on advancing the audience development.

After Seattle Storm won the championship in 2004, one since 2000, passed in 2005 with an average attendance of 8,868 was the first month of 8000. Overall, 2005 150.760 spectators attended the 17 home games of the Storm, what an all-time record for the franchise is (as of 2011). Thanks to the good squad came in subsequent seasons no major fluctuations more. Between 2006 and 2010 an average of about 8,000 spectators attended the home games of the Seattle Storm.

A ticket costs in the 2012 season 14-155 dollars.

Achievements and honors

Sporting successes

The biggest success in the fledgling franchise history celebrated Seattle Storm during the 2004 season when he won the championship for the first time. The team defeated in the final series, the Connecticut Sun in the decisive third game. The next big success followed in 2010 when the club the regular season for the first time finished as the best team with 28 victories in 34 games. Then the team won every game in the playoffs, thus securing the championship for the second time. This Seattle Storm is one next to the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury to the active franchises with the most championship titles.

Individual Awards

All-Star Game MVP: The Award for the most outstanding player in the All-Star Game was still the only player of the Storm Swin Cash.

• 2009 - Swin Cash
• 2011 - Swin Cash

Coach of the Year Award: Brian Agler, in 2010 as the first coach of the Seattle Storm, the best coach of the year award.

• 2010 - Brian Agler

Defensive Player of the Year Award: The award for the most outstanding defensive player of the regular season, in 2007, Lauren Jackson.

• 2007 - Lauren Jackson

Finals MVP Award: 2004, the franchise won the championship for the first time. In the finals was a surprise to some, the young Betty Lennox elected Finals MVP. When winning the championship in 2010 Lauren Jackson was named the most valuable player of the finals series.

• 2004 - Betty Lennox
• 2010 - Lauren Jackson

Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: Sue Bird became the first player of the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award Storm, which is awarded to players who stood out during the season due to their high sporting standards and exemplary behavior.

• 2011 - Sue Bird

Most Valuable Player Award: Lauren Jackson, the first non -American in 2003 was able to win this award. 2007 and 2010, they could win this award a second time.

• 2003 - Lauren Jackson
• 2007 - Lauren Jackson
• 2010 - Lauren Jackson

Peak performers: Lauren Jackson received 2007 for the best points and rebounds average in the league two awards in this category. 2009 point guard Sue Bird won her first award when she scored the highest Assist section of the league.

• 2007 - Lauren Jackson (points)
• 2007 - Lauren Jackson ( rebounds )
• 2009 - Sue Bird ( assists)

WNBA All- Decade Team: On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the WNBA in 2006 chose fans, media, current players and coaches, the ten players who had the biggest impact on the success of the WNBA. With Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson two Storm players were immediately selected.

• 2006 - Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson

All- WNBA Team and All-Defensive Team nominations

Since the establishment of basketball franchises managed two players of the franchise in one of the All- WNBA teams and three to All-Defensive team.

The WNBA provides after every season together a team, the All - WNBA First Team, with the best players in the WNBA season. In addition, an All- WNBA Second Team will be selected. As the first player managed Sue Bird following the 2002 season in the All- WNBA First Team. In the following season, another Storm player was elected team in the All- WNBA First with Lauren Jackson. Overall, Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird was seven times elected four times to the All- WNBA First Team.

Since the 2005 season, the WNBA also the WNBA All-Defensive First Team, on with the best defenders of the WNBA season. Again, there are like the All- WNBA team a WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. Lauren Jackson made ​​it in 2005 as the first Storm player in the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. In 2007 she was elected for the first time in the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. Another nomination in the first- team follow in 2009. Besides Jackson managed with Tanisha Wright another Storm player in the first team to be elected. Previously, she was a total of three times (2009, 2010 and 2011) First part of the team. In addition, 2011 Swin Cash, chosen team in their last season for the Storm in the WNBA All-Defensive Second (end- 2011).

WNBA All- Star Game nominations

* Cancellation for breach

A total of three players from the Seattle Storm have been chosen by the fans due to their popularity in the WNBA All-Star Game or nominated by the coaches because of their performance with Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Swin Cash. 2004, 2008 and 2012 because of the 2010 FIBA World Championship no WNBA All-Star Game took place due to the Summer Olympic Games or.

As the first player of the franchise Lauren Jackson was nominated for the WNBA All-Star Game in 2001. In the subsequent WNBA All-Star Game 2002 Sue Bird was elected as the first Storm player of the fans in the starting lineup. When the WNBA All-Star Game in 2003 were with Jackson and Bird for the first time two players of the franchise in the starting lineup. This mark was surpassed in the WNBA All-Star Game in 2009, when with Bird, Jackson and Swin Cash three Storm players were selected in the starting lineup.

Cash was selected in the WNBA All-Star Game 2009 has been the only player of the franchise to the most valuable player of the All- Star Games. When the WNBA All-Star Game 2011, she was elected for the second time in a row the best player.

Season statistics

Note: GP = Games, W = Wins, L = Losses

Records

The following selected records from players of both franchises over the entire career as well as in a single game are listed.

Career

* Active player; Stand at the end of the regular season 2012

Game

Stand at the end of the regular season 2012

Owner

The first owner of the Seattle Storm was The Ackerley Group, which was also the owner of the Seattle SuperSonics at this time. The group, led by Barry Ackerley, used the application for a WNBA franchise to complete a new lease with the City of Seattle for the KeyArena. After just one season in the WNBA franchise that moved the first time the owner. In early 2001 bought The Basketball Club of Seattle, LLC, an investment group around Howard Schultz, the franchise together with the Seattle SuperSonics for $ 200 million. The Basketball Club of Seattle, LLC consisted of a total of ten investors, said Schultz was majority owner and took over the post of chairman.

Due to losses in the millions, an unattractive and renovation as well as a venue to expensive lease, the owner of the two basketball franchises for $ 350 million to The Professional Basketball Club LLC, the ownership group from Oklahoma City decided in 2006 to sell. Clay Bennett, chairman of the owning group, called after buying the franchise support from the City of Seattle for the construction of a new arena, otherwise he would relocate the two basketball franchises. As the city and Bennett did not agree, he announced in November 2007 that the Seattle Supersonics will be moved to Oklahoma City. The whereabouts of the Storm in Seattle he spoke at first only to the extent that the franchise at least the 2008 season would still spend in Seattle.

Even before the start of the 2008 season earned the Force 10 Hoops LLC, a Eigentümmergruppe around three local business women, the rights to the Seattle Storm ten million dollars and thus secured the fate of the franchise in Seattle. On 28 February 2008, the WNBA agreed to sell, making Seattle Storm was the sixth independent franchise in the league. The three main actors are the Eigentümmergruppe Dawn Trudeau, current chairman of the organization, Lisa Brummel and Ginny Gilder.

Coach

Abbreviations: GC = Matches, W = Wins, L = Losses

Seattle Storm started his first season with Lin Dunn on the bench. The franchise was at that time one of the few who occupied the post of head coach with a woman. Although the team under her leadership improved from season to season, they left the team after the 2002 season. Under her leadership, the two franchise players Lauren Jackson (2001) and Sue Bird (2002 ) selected in the WNBA Draft. In addition, Dunn 2002, the franchise for the first time in its history in the playoffs.

After the departure of Dunn took over for the 2003 season with the Hall -of- Famer Anne Donovan again a woman the post of head coach. During the 2004 season, she won a championship as the first female head coach in the history of the WNBA. Despite good performance in subsequent seasons, this was the only championship win under her. After the 2007 season, they broke up their ongoing contract.

On 8 January 2008, the commitment of Brian Agler was followed by the first male head coach of the franchise. Under the leadership of Agler the franchise ended in 2010, the first regular season as the best team in the league, with 28 wins in 34 games. He was elected as the first coach of the franchise for the best coach of the year for this outstanding achievement. In the playoffs, Seattle lost a single game, which Agler led the team for the first title since 2004 could ( the second ever). 18 November 2011, his contract was extended until 2015.

Players

• Main article: Complete Player List of Seattle Storm

Squad of the Season 2013

As of June 11, 2013

First-round choice in the WNBA Draft Rights

Since 2000, the club had twelve draft rights in the first round of the WNBA draft. Only in the years 2004 and 2008 had the franchise not a single draft pick in the first round.

With Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird, the franchise has been able to select a player twice in the first position. So far, all players who chose the Storm since 2000 in the first round came, yet in the same season in the jersey of the club to their first use in the WNBA. In addition, with Bird, Jackson, Tanisha Wright and Shekinna Stricklen were still four players in the squad of the Storm during the past season, 2012.

Retraction jersey numbers

So far, no jersey number of pages of the franchise has been withdrawn.

Members of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

So far, no player of the Seattle Storm in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame was recorded. The only current reference to the Hall of Fame is the recorded in 1999 Anne Donovan, who managed the team from 2003 to 2006 as head coach.

Well-known former players

( Team membership and position in brackets)

• United States Swin Cash (2008-2011, Forward)

• United States Yolanda Griffith ( 2008 Center )

• United States Betty Lennox (2004-2007, Guard / Forward)

• United States Sheryl Swoopes (2008, Forward)

Miscellaneous

Team Name and Logo

On 6 January 2000, the franchise unveiled the team name Storm the public. The name of the franchise refers to the rainy weather of Seattle.

The logo of the Seattle Storm, which was presented on 19 January 2000, includes some elements typical of Seattle, so for example, the Space Needle, a part of the logo. Other elements of the logo are a cloud and the letter S in the word Storm is shown as a flash, which also refers to the weather in Seattle.

Mascot

Doppler, a wine-colored creature with an anemometer on his head, since 2000, the mascot of the team. The mascot was introduced on 1 June 2000 at the first home game of the Storm to the public. Doppler occurs not only at the home games of the Storm, but also throughout the year in all types of events (birthday parties, schools, parades, etc.).

Sponsoring

On June 1 In 2009, Donna Orender, then President of the WNBA, and David Stern, president of the NBA, announced that the Phoenix Mercury have signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with LifeLock. For the first time there was a sponsor on a jersey and the basketball court of a WNBA team. The Los Angeles Sparks played in the 2009 season for the first time with a Hauptsponser on the jersey.

On 21 April 2010 announced the club management that it has signed a long- term sponsorship agreement with Microsoft. This agreement secures loud Karen Bryant, former CEO and General Manager of the Storm, the franchise revenues in excess of one million dollars. In return, located since 2010 with Bing, an Internet search engine of Microsoft, the first time a sponsor on the shirts of the club. The logo replaces the place of the team logo, which is now located next to the logo of the outfitter and also has about its size. The logo of internet search engine is not only used on the jerseys of the team, but also appeared on the training apparel of the players, and on advertising boards in the KeyArena, as well as charity event of the franchise on.

Media presence

Television partner of the Seattle Storm 's King TV that broadcasts the games of the franchise on the local station KONG TV or Universal Sports. In addition, all games in the Storm on the radio station KPTK AM 1090, part of the CBS group, are to receive.

In addition, selected games of the WNBA on the ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NBA TV will broadcast nationwide. For the spectators also offers the option to WNBA Live Access, an online platform of WNBA.com to track all season games over the Internet.

In the 2012 season, a total of five games of the Seattle Storm on ESPN2 will broadcast nationwide.

Rivalries

The franchise maintains rivalries to the Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks. Both rivalries created through multiple encounters in the playoffs, so the club met after the regular season to date total of five times on the Sparks, where they could gain from only one encounter. He also met between 2007 and 2011 in the playoffs three times in the Mercury, which it decided two series of its own.