Seattle Storm Fan Club

Swoopes 2009 Contract was Waived

Coach Brian Agler has announced that Sheryl Swoopes 2009 contract was waived this weekend, just a day before it would have been guaranteed by the team. Coach Agler says the release of Swoopes was due to salary caps and the need to focus on building depth in the team.

“It was a very tough decision to release Sheryl,” Agler said in a statement provided by the team Tuesday. “Our free agency priorities, right now, are to secure depth both at the post and point guard positions.”

Might Be Time to Focus On Something New For Swoopes

The three-time WNBA MVP and three-time Olympic gold medalist might now pursue something she’s talked about since September — coaching and being a full-time mother.

“I’ve talked to a few people about coaching,” Swoopes said then. “I have a son who is in school here. It is time for me to be a full-time mom.”

Link to more information: Seattle Storm waives Sheryl Swoopes

Bookmark This Site With The Tools Bellow

Filed under: Players | Post a comment

Mayor Greg Nickles Announced a 10-year Lease Deal with the Seattle Storm

The new deal between the City of Seattle and the Seattle Storm, as reported by Puget Sound Business Journal, the team has agreed to pay the city $5,000 per home game at KeyArena and the team will receive 30% of the revenue derived from concession operations.

The City has entered this agreement to continue the enhancement of the Seattle Center. The Storm’s home games have brought people onto the Seattle Center campus and to the lower Queen Anne business district.

“It’s fitting that we have agreed on a 10-year lease to launch the 10th anniversary year of the Storm in Seattle. Women’s professional basketball has provided our community with exemplary role models, not only for young women, but for all athletes and fans. This is a proud day for Storm fans and our city,” Nickels said.

KeyArena has been the home of the Seattle Storm since their inaugural season in 2000.

“KeyArena is a terrific home court for all the fans who have been so loyal to the Storm over the years,” said Anne Levinson, chair of Force 10 Hoops, who negotiated the lease on behalf of the team. “We appreciate the city partnering with us so that we can keep ticket prices affordable for a diversity of fans and families throughout the region. We worked hard to make sure a new lease was good not just for the team, but for the community as well. We look forward to many more packed houses at the Key!”

Bookmark This Site With The Tools Bellow

Filed under: Seattle Storm | Post a comment

Tanisha Wright has Found Her Home in Seattle

As a restricted free agent this year, Wright had the opportunity to shop around for a new team and new opportunity but she has found her home in Seattle and had no interest in going anywhere. Seattle announced her re-signing with the Storm Wednesday.

“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind where I wanted to be and continue to play,” said Wright. “I knew I wanted to be in Seattle. If that’s something that you know, there’s no reason to go astray.”

Coach Agler’s relationship with Wright played a key role in her desire to return to the Storm. During the 2008 season, Agler moved her from backup point guard to Sue Bird and moved her off the ball. This proved to be a wise decision by Coach Agler, demonstrating confidence in Wright’s abilities, and lead to a career year for Wright averaging 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 14 starts.

“From day one, Brian came in and really supported me,” Wright said, “challenged me and expressed how much he wanted me to be in a Storm uniform, how much he wanted me to play for the Storm and how much he believed in me. That obviously weighed a ton.”

After playing in Seattle for the last 4 years, Wright is getting into the prime years of her career and is very excited for the 2009 season.

“I’m really looking forward to the 2009 season,” she said, “especially after the season that we had last year. I just think that we have so much that we can build on, so much we can get better on, so much potential with the team that we had. Granted, I know we’re not going to bring back the exact same players, but I think whoever Brian brings in to play for us will be a great group of girls and he’ll really have something in store for us. I’m really excited to begin that.”

Read more onTanisha Wright and her signing with Seattle.

Bookmark This Site With The Tools Bellow

Filed under: Players | Post a comment

photo by:rks-seattle

Jackson has been courted by 8 different WNBA teams

Lauren Jackson is currently in Russian playing for Spartak but that doesn’t keep the WNBA coaches from traveling all the way to Moscow to talk with her.

“My Seattle coach, Brian Agler, and Mike Thibault from Connecticut have flown to Moscow to see me,” Jackson said. “I think the Phoenix coach (Corey Gaines) is going over in January.

Lauren Jackson represents some of the best talent in the free-agency market right now and she has just about every WNBA team vying for her contract. But Lauren admits to the Advertiser that she may not want to return to the WNBA next season.

“I think at the moment I have to decide on both (options); whether to play in the WNBA and, if so, with which team,” Jackson said. “I don’t want to jump into anything that I can’t fulfill right now. I don’t know how I might feel in a couple of months’ time.

“But I’m at the stage where I don’t really need to prove anything and I want to do things for me now.”

“Look, I love Seattle and I love my coach there. He’s great. And so are my team-mates obviously, so it’s a pretty big decision, something I’m not taking lightly at all.

“It’s not a financial decision. Not at all.”

Bookmark This Site With The Tools Bellow

Filed under: Players | Post a comment

photo: ntisocl

Seattle Storm 2009 Season Schedule

The Storm will open up their season with a game in Sacramento on June 6. The first home game is on June 7 also against the Monarchs. The team’s home opener falls on the 10th anniversary of the city of Seattle being selected as one of the 4 cities to receive a WNBA expansion team in 2000.

“We look forward to celebrating the Storm’s 10th anniversary season this summer with the best fans in the WNBA,” said Storm CEO Karen Bryant. “2009 will prove to be an exciting season in the WNBA as we will again see some great matchups of the best players in the world competing at KeyArena.”

The Seattle Storm will be playing on national television twice this season on ESPN2. First, against the Indiana Fever on June 9. Then on July 9 with the Sacramento Monarchs.

Home games are in bold.

June -

• Sat 06 @ Sacramento 1:00pm
• Sun 07 vs Sacramento 6:00pm
• Tue 09 @ Indiana 4:00pm ESPN2
• Fri 12 @ Minnesota 5:00pm
• Sun 14 @ Chicago 3:00pm
• Fri 19 vs Minnesota 7:00pm
• Sun 21 @ Phoenix 4:00pm
• Fri 26 vs Los Angeles 7:00pm
• Sun 28 @ Los Angeles 6:30pm

July -

• Wed 01 @ Phoenix 7:00pm
• Tue 07 vs San Antonio 12:00pm
• Thu 09 vs Sacramento 6:00pm ESPN2
• Sun 12 vs Chicago 6:00pm
• Wed 15 vs Detroit 7:00pm
• Fri 17 @ Sacramento 7:00pm
• Sun 19 vs Minnesota 5:00pm
• Wed 22 vs Los Angeles 7:00pm
• Tue 28 @ San Antonio 5:00pm

August -

• Sat 01 vs San Antonio 7:00pm
• Tue 04 vs Phoenix 7:00pm
• Thu 06 @ Los Angeles 7:30pm
• Sat 08 vs New York 7:00pm
• Thu 13 @ Connecticut 4:00pm
• Sat 15 @ Atlanta 4:00pm
• Tue 18 @ Detroit 4:30pm
• Sat 22 vs Indiana 7:00pm
• Tue 25 vs Washington 7:00pm
• Thu 27 vs Connecticut 7:00pm
• Sat 29 vs Atlanta 7:00pm

September -

• Tue 01 @ New York 4:30pm
• Thu 03 @ Washington 4:00pm
• Sat 05 @ Minnesota 5:00pm
• Thu 10 vs Phoenix 7:00pm
• Sat 12 @ San Antonio 5:00pm

Bookmark This Site With The Tools Bellow

Filed under: Game Schedule | Post a comment