WNBA Draft – From The Middle Blog

The Seattle Storm are one of the most successful franchises in WNBA history. Founded in 2000, the Storm have won four WNBA championships, produced multiple league MVPs and Rookie of the Year winners, developed Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers, and become one of the most enduring women’s professional sports organizations in the Pacific Northwest. The franchise’s greatest eras have been built around legendary players such as Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart. Its history also includes pioneering ownership, championship coaches and a remarkable ability to remain competitive through generations of players. The Storm’s four WNBA championships came in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020. The Birth of the Seattle Storm The WNBA awarded Seattle an expansion franchise in 1999, with the team beginning play in the 2000 season. The franchise became known as the Seattle Storm and originally operated in conjunction with the The Birth of the Seattle Storm’s Seattle SuperSonics. The Storm played their first season at Key Arena, the building that had been the home of the Super Sonics. Seattle immediately established itself as a legitimate WNBA franchise, but the team’s transformation into a championship organization began with the arrival of Lauren Jackson. The Owners of the Seattle Storm The Storm’s ownership history is particularly interesting because the franchise changed hands during the controversial departure of the Seattle Super Sonics. Howard Schultz and the Seattle Super Sonics ownership group When the Storm began play in 2000, the franchise was owned as part of the Seattle Super Sonics organization. Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz had purchased the Super Sonics and Storm in 2001, and the Storm remained under the Sonics ownership structure during the early part of its history. The Storm’s first years were therefore closely connected with the NBA franchise. Clay Bennett and Professional Basketball Club LLC In 2006, the Super Sonics and Storm were sold to a group headed by Oklahoma businessman Clay Bennett. That ownership group ultimately moved the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City following the 2007–08 season. The Storm’s situation was different. Rather than moving to Oklahoma City, the Storm were sold separately. Force 10 Hoops — 2008 On February 28, 2008, the Storm were purchased by Force 10 Hoops LLC for $10 million. The original Force 10 ownership group consisted of four Seattle women: Anne Levinson, Lisa Brummel, Dawn Trudeau and Ginny Gilder. The purchase was historically important because it kept the Storm in Seattle when the future of professional basketball in the city was uncertain. Anne Levinson subsequently left the ownership group, leaving Brummel, Trudeau and Gilder as the principal Force 10 owners. Sue Bird Joins the Ownership Group In 2024, Storm legend Sue Bird joined the ownership group. Bird’s addition was especially significant because she had spent her entire WNBA playing career with Seattle, from 2002 through 2022. She had already become one of the defining figures in franchise history as a player before becoming an owner. Bobby Wagner Joins the Ownership Group. In 2026, Seattle Seahawks legend Bobby Wagner joined the Storm ownership group. His addition expanded the ownership group with another prominent Seattle sports figure. The Storm described the organization as having four WNBA championships and 19 playoff appearances through 25 seasons when announcing Wagner’s addition. The current ownership structure is centered on Force 10 Hoops, with Lisa Brummel, Dawn Trudeau and Ginny Gilder among the principal owners, along with newer ownership partners including Sue Bird and Bobby Wagner. Every Arena the Seattle Storm Have Called Home The Storm have had a more complicated home-arena history than many WNBA teams because of the rebuilding of their longtime Seattle Center home. Key Arena — 2000–2018 Key Arena was the Storm’s original and longest-running home. The Storm played there from their inaugural 2000 season through 2018. It became one of the great home courts in WNBA history. Seattle went 209–110 at Key Arena, a .655 winning percentage, and had 15 winning seasons at the building between 2000 and 2018. Key Arena witnessed two Storm championships: 2004 2010 It also witnessed the team’s 2018 championship run. The final Storm game at the old Key Arena was Game 2 of the 2018 WNBA Finals, a 75–73 Seattle victory over the Washington Mystics. Seattle then won Game 3 in Washington to capture its third championship. Alaska Airlines Arena — 2020 scheduled home When the original Key Arena was being redeveloped, Seattle planned to use the University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena for the first portion of its 2020 home schedule. The Storm’s announced 2020 schedule called for 10 home games at Alaska Airlines Arena. However, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the 2020 WNBA season. The league ultimately played its season in The IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, so Alaska Airlines Arena did not function as a normal Storm home venue during an actual 2020 regular season University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena — Everett The Storm also planned to play home games at Angel Of The Winds Arena in Everett during the arena-construction period. The 2020 schedule called for Seattle to move there after the Olympic break. Again, the pandemic prevented that planned home schedule from occurring. Florida — 2020 WNBA Bubble The 2020 season deserves special mention. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire WNBA season was played at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Consequently, the Storm technically had no conventional Seattle home games in 2020. Seattle won the WNBA championship in the Florida bubble. In 2021, however, Angel Of The Winds Arena actually became a Storm home venue. The team opened the 2021 season there while COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance. The Storm welcomed the Las Vegas Aces to Everett for the home opener on May 15, 2021. Angel Of The Winds Arena — 2022–Present The newly redeveloped Climate Pledge Arena opened at Seattle Center in October 2021. The Storm returned to downtown Seattle… Continue reading Seattle Storm: Complete History,

Los Angeles Sparks: History, Owners, Arenas, Hall of Famers and the Legacy of a WNBA Powerhouse The Los Angeles Sparks are one of the original franchises of the Women’s National Basketball Association and one of the most important teams in the history of women’s professional basketball. From the league’s first game in 1997 to three WNBA championships, multiple league MVPs, Hall of Fame players, Olympic champions and generations of outstanding talent, the Sparks have built a legacy that stretches well beyond their championship banners. The franchise has remained in Los Angeles since the WNBA’s inaugural season and has been home to some of the greatest players in women’s basketball history, most notably Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. The Beginning of the Los Angeles Sparks The Sparks were established for the WNBA’s inaugural 1997 season as one of the league’s original eight franchises. Their first game was particularly historic. On June 21, 1997, the Sparks hosted the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. Penny Toler scored the first basket in WNBA history, giving the Sparks a permanent place in the league’s history from the opening minute of the first game. Los Angeles finished its first season 14–14. The early years were a period of development, but the arrival and development of Lisa Leslie helped transform the franchise. By 1999, the Sparks had their first winning season, finishing 20–12 and making their first playoff appearance. The team defeated the Sacramento Monarchs in the opening round before losing to the eventual champion Houston Comets in the Western Conference Finals. The Sparks were no longer simply an expansion team. They were becoming a contender. The Owners of the Los Angeles Sparks The Sparks have had several ownership groups during their history. Jerry Buss — 1997–2006 The franchise originally belonged to Dr. Jerry Buss, the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sparks operated as the Lakers’ sister WNBA franchise during their first decade. Buss’s ownership connected the new women’s league with one of the most recognizable basketball organizations in the world. Buss owned the Sparks from the franchise’s beginning in 1997 until 2006. Gemini Basketball LLC — 2006–2011 In 2006, Buss sold the Sparks to Gemini Basketball LLC. The ownership group included: Carla Christofferson, Kathy Goodman, and Lynai Jones. The new ownership represented a transition from NBA ownership to independent ownership of the WNBA franchise. Williams Group Holdings — 2011–2014 Williams Group Holdings, headed by Paula Madison, became the team’s controlling ownership group during the next period. Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman remained involved, while Sparks legend Lisa Leslie was also part of the ownership group for a period. The ownership era became increasingly difficult financially, and by the end of 2013 Williams Group Holdings announced that it could no longer continue operating the franchise. The WNBA became involved in the transition while a new ownership group was sought. Sparks LA Sports — 2014–present In February 2014, a group led by Mark Walter and Earvin “Magic” Johnson purchased the Sparks. The ownership group included: Mark Walter, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Stan Kasten, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, and Eric Holoman. The purchase was especially important because it kept the Sparks in Los Angeles at a time when the franchise’s future had been uncertain. The current ownership group is known as Sparks LA Sports. Every Arena the Sparks Have Called Home The Sparks’ primary home has been downtown Los Angeles for most of their history, but scheduling and arena construction have occasionally required the team to move games to other venues. Great Western Forum — 1997–2000 The Great Western Forum in Inglewood was the original home of the Los Angeles Sparks. It was the site of the first game in WNBA history involving the Sparks and New York Liberty. The Forum was the Sparks’ home during their first four seasons. Staples Center — 2001–2021 The Sparks moved downtown to Staples Center in 2001. The move immediately became part of the franchise’s greatest era. The Sparks won WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002 during their early years at the arena. Staples Center was renamed Crypto.com Arena in 2021. Los Angeles Convention Center — 2021 Because of scheduling conflicts involving the Lakers and Clippers during the pandemic-delayed sports calendar, the Sparks played the first 11 of their 16 regular-season home games in 2021 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Sparks returned to Staples Center for their final five home games and playoffs. Galen Center — 2023 The Sparks used USC’s Galen Center for two home games during the 2023 season. One example was the August 23, 2023 home game against the Phoenix Mercury. Walter Pyramid — 2024 Construction at Crypto.com Arena forced the Sparks to schedule early-season games at the Walter Pyramid at Long Beach State. The Sparks ultimately played two home games there, against Atlanta and Washington, before other scheduled games were moved back to Crypto.com Arena. Crypto.com Arena — 2001–present Crypto.com Arena, originally known as Staples Center, remains the Sparks’ primary home. The arena has witnessed all three Sparks championships associated with their downtown era: 2001, 2002 and 2016. The Sparks have continued their relationship with the arena, with a lease extension keeping them there through 2029. The Sparks’ WNBA Hall of Fame Players The WNBA does not operate a separate Hall of Fame comparable to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. For this article, the Hall of Fame category refers to players who have been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and whose major professional legacy includes their time with Los Angeles. Under that standard, the two defining Sparks players are Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. Lisa Leslie Lisa Leslie is the foundational superstar of the Los Angeles Sparks. Drafted by Los Angeles in 1997, Leslie spent her entire WNBA career with the Sparks from 1997 through 2009. Her Sparks accomplishments include: Three WNBA MVP awards Two WNBA championships Two WNBA Finals MVP awards Eight All-Star selections Eight All-WNBA First Team selections Two Defensive Player of… Continue reading Los Angeles Sparks: History and Legacy