The storm are a professional basketball team that competes in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The storm have been one of the most successful teams in the WNBA since the league began playing in 1997. They have won 4 WNBA championships (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) and 11 Western Conference titles. The storm play their home games at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Brief History of the Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm were one of the original 8 teams that began playing in the WNBA in 1997. The storm were founded by Ginger Ackerley and Barry Ackerley. The Ackerleys also owned the Seattle SuperSonics NBA team at the time.
The storm struggled in their early years, failing to qualify for the playoffs in their first 6 seasons. But things turned around in 2002 when they drafted young stars Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. With Bird running the point and Jackson dominating in the paint, the storm became perennial playoff contenders.
In 2004, the storm finally broke through and won their first WNBA championship. Led by Bird, Jackson, and Betty Lennox, the storm defeated the Connecticut Sun 2-1 in the WNBA Finals.
After a few down years, the storm returned to glory by winning another championship in 2010. Bird, Jackson, and Swin Cash powered the storm past the Atlanta Dream 3-0 in the Finals.
Following the 2010 title win, the storm went through a rebuilding period. They missed the playoffs for 5 straight seasons between 2011-2015. But they began turning things around after drafting Jewell Loyd in 2015 and signing veteran stars like Natasha Howard.
The additions of Loyd, Howard, and others catapulted the storm back to the top of the league. They won the WNBA championship in 2018 by sweeping the Washington Mystics. In 2020, they won again, knocking out the Las Vegas Aces 3-0 in the Finals.
Heading into 2023, the storm remain one of the top contenders for another WNBA title. They are led by aging superstar Sue Bird in what is likely her final season before retirement. But with Jewell Loyd now in her prime and other key pieces in place, the storm look poised to continue their winning ways for years to come.
Noteworthy Players in Storm History
– **Sue Bird:** The longtime Storm point guard is one of the all-time greats in women’s basketball history. She’s a 4-time WNBA champion with the Storm (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) and a 12-time All-Star. Bird has played her entire WNBA career from 2002-present with the Storm. She’ll go down as one of the best distributors and clutch shooters ever.
– **Lauren Jackson:** A versatile and dominant forward/center, Jackson was the cornerstone for the Storm during their run of excellence in the 2000s. She won 2 titles with the Storm and was a 3-time WNBA MVP. Injuries cut her career short, but at her peak Jackson was nearly unstoppable on both ends of the court.
– **Breanna Stewart:** Since being drafted #1 overall in 2016, Stewart has become the new face of the franchise. She led the Storm to championships in 2018 and 2020, claiming Finals MVP honors both times. Stewart is arguably the most complete player in the world with her ability to score from anywhere and lock down on defense.
– **Jewell Loyd:** Selected #1 overall in 2015, Loyd has developed into an elite scorer and All-Star guard. Her quickness and shooting range make her nearly impossible to contain off the dribble. Loyd figures to be a centerpiece for the Storm for years to come next to Stewart.
Home Arena
The storm have played at Climate Pledge Arena in downtown Seattle ever since the franchise began in 2000. Originally known as KeyArena when it first opened in 1962, the venue has undergone 2 major renovations over the years (1995, 2018-2019).
Some key facts about Climate Pledge Arena:
– Located in Seattle Center, just north of downtown
– Home to the Seattle Storm since 2000 and formerly the Seattle SuperSonics NBA team until 2008
– Official seating capacity of 17,100 for basketball games
– Hosted NCAA Final Four in 1995
– Completed a $1 billion renovation in 2018-2019
– Renamed Climate Pledge Arena in 2020 after Amazon purchased naming rights
– Regarded as one of the loudest venues in the WNBA
In addition to the Storm, Climate Pledge Arena is also home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, which began play in 2021. It hosts concerts and other entertainment events as well. The facility features state-of-the-art amenities after the recent massive overhaul. The storm are scheduled to play at Climate Pledge Arena through at least 2033 per their current lease agreement.
Storm’s 2023 Schedule
The WNBA regular season schedule consists of 36 games per team. The 2023 season will tip off on Friday, May 19 and run through Sunday, August 13.
As a Western Conference squad, the Storm will play 24 games against West opponents and 12 games versus the Eastern Conference. Their home slate includes 18 games at Climate Pledge Arena, while the other 18 will be on the road.
Here is a glance at some key games on the Storm’s upcoming 2023 schedule:
– **Season Opener:** Saturday, May 20 vs. Minnesota Lynx
– **Home Opener:** Friday, May 26 vs. Washington Mystics
– **Sue Bird’s Final Regular Season Home Game:** Tuesday, August 9 vs. Las Vegas Aces
– **Regular Season Finale:** Sunday, August 13 @ Phoenix Mercury
If they qualify, the Storm’s playoff run would begin in late August and could potentially stretch into October if they advance to the WNBA Finals again.
As Sue Bird’s legendary career nears its end, fans will surely flock to Climate Pledge Arena to catch her final games donning a Storm uniform. Expect the stadium to be rocking for her potential farewell game on August 9 against the Las Vegas Aces.
2023 Storm Schedule Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of the matchups on the Storm’s 36-game regular season schedule for 2023:
| Opponent | Matchups |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Mercury | 4 games |
| Las Vegas Aces | 4 games |
| Los Angeles Sparks | 4 games |
| Dallas Wings | 3 games |
| Minnesota Lynx | 3 games |
| Chicago Sky | 2 games |
| Connecticut Sun | 2 games |
| Washington Mystics | 2 games |
| New York Liberty | 2 games |
| Atlanta Dream | 2 games |
| Indiana Fever | 2 games |
The storm will face their Western Conference rivals 4 times each. They’ll take on the Eastern Conference teams just twice each. Rivalries like Storm vs. Mercury and Storm vs. Aces will be must-watch TV with a potential four installments apiece. Circle the calendar for Stewart vs. A’ja Wilson and Loyd vs. Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Intra-conference games make up two-thirds of the schedule, giving the Storm an opportunity to jockey for playoff seeding by taking care of business in the West. They’ll need to secure a top-four seed to earn a first-round bye.
Road battles with the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces and veteran-led Phoenix Mercury figure to be particularly intense as the Storm pursue another title. Rookie of the Year frontrunner Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty will also be a challenging foe from the East.
It all adds up to another grueling but exciting WNBA campaign ahead for the Storm in 2023. The franchise’s championship window remains open as icons Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart chase more glory before potentially moving on.
Analysis of Upcoming Opponents
Let’s take a deeper look at what to expect from some of the top teams the Storm will battle in 2023:
Las Vegas Aces
The Aces enter 2023 as defending WNBA champs after trouncing the Connecticut Sun in the 2022 Finals. They re-signed superstar A’ja Wilson and added veteran PG Chelsea Gray to cement themselves as the team to beat. A matchup of Wilson and Gray against Storm forwards Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd could determine who represents the West in the Finals. The Aces swept the Storm 3-0 in the 2022 conference semifinals.
Phoenix Mercury
With Diana Taurasi back for another run, the Mercury figure to be the Storm’s main competition in the West. Phoenix took the Storm to overtime in the 5th and final game of their playoff series last season. The legendary Taurasi vs. Sue Bird matchup will be must-see TV in what could be their final showdown(s) before retirement. Phoenix bolstered their roster by trading for PG Diamond DeShields.
Chicago Sky
The Sky enter 2023 with largely the same championship-winning core from 2021 led by PG Courtney Vandersloot and SF Kahleah Copper. Their switch-heavy defensive scheme and wealth of offensive talent makes Chicago a formidable foe. The Storm split their two meetings with the Sky last season. This could be among the toughest inter-conference matchups.
New York Liberty
All eyes will be on budding superstar Sabrina Ionescu and the improved New York Liberty. Former MVP Tina Charles adds to a talented roster featuring Betnijah Laney and Natasha Howard. The Liberty figure to be a difficult matchup with Ionescu’s brilliant passing putting the Storm defense in scramble mode. New York won both matchups last season.
Washington Mystics
The Mystics project to be a playoff team again behind former MVP Elena Delle Donne, who appears healthy after missing significant time. Washington possesses an athletic frontcourt capable of containing Breanna Stewart. The Storm will need to counter the Mystics’ size and versatility in their two matchups.
Projecting the Storm’s 2023 Record
Considering the makeup of their roster and schedule, here is a projected outlook on the Seattle Storm’s 2023 regular season record:
– Wins vs. Western Conference opponents: 16
– Wins vs. Eastern Conference opponents: 8
– Total Wins: 24
– Losses: 12
– Final Record: 24-12
The Storm should be able to take care of business against the lesser West teams like Dallas, Minnesota, and Los Angeles. But the Mercury, Aces, and Sky games will be battles. An 8-4 record against the East seems reasonable given the challenging matchups.
Sue Bird’s pending retirement adds emotion and unpredictability. The Storm may kick it into high gear for her home stretch.
This sets up a projected record of 24-12 and a top-four seed in the playoffs. The Storm have finished with 25+ wins in four straight non-COVID seasons so this is right around their expected range.
Of course, injuries or trades could alter the landscape in unpredictable ways. But with Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd leading a solid core, the Storm remain near the top of the WNBA pecking order entering 2023. Expectfireworks as they pursue another championship.
Conclusion
The Seattle Storm have been one of the WNBA’s premier franchises since drafting Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird back in 2002. With 4 titles and 11 conference championships, they have consistently been in the mix for over two decades now.
As the 2023 season approaches, the Storm appear well-positioned to contend yet again. Veteran stalwarts like Bird and Stewart continue leading the charge. Young stars like Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams, and Ezi Magbegor ensure the future remains bright.
The road through the daunting Western Conference won’t be easy. Rivals like the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury are loaded with talent. An improved New York Liberty squad highlights challenging East foes as well.
But with rabid home crowds backing them at Climate Pledge Arena, don’t count out the Storm as they vie for a 5th WNBA crown. The franchise remains the class of the league, proving they can reload effectively even after iconic players like Lauren Jackson and Swin Cash retired.
Head coach Noelle Quinn will have to push the right buttons and manage egos down the stretch. If she can get the most out of Stewart and Loyd while sending Sue Bird out on a high note, the Storm may very well end up back atop the WNBA once again hoisting the championship trophy.