Fans come first: Storm build identity as Seattle's team

By Meg Wochnick | The Olympian • Published June 29, 2008

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SEATTLE - Precisely 45 minutes before tipoff of a recent Seattle Storm game, 7-year-old Brynne Condon of Everett stood courtside at KeyArena, watching her favorite Storm player, Sue Bird.

Decked out in a mock Storm green road jersey with "Bird" and "10" on the back, Brynne watched Bird's every move closely as the Storm players took part in the team's shootaround before their WNBA game against the Phoenix Mercury. Every shot Bird made wowed Brynne.

"She's my favorite," Brynne said. "She smiled and waved at me."

That was Brynne's second Seattle Storm game and the first time she stood courtside prior to tipoff to get an up-close-and-personal look at her favorite basketball player and team.

"I love the Storm," Condon said.

Fans at the Storm’s home games are allowed to stand courtside and watch until 30 minutes before tipoff. It's one of numerous opportunities for fans at the Storm’s home contests, including today’s 6 p.m. matchup against the Washington Mystics to begin a three-game homestand.

The game

The Storm underwent many changes this past offseason, including four new owners and several new players who make Seattle’s starting five look more like an Olympic team lineup.

So far on the court, the Storm are offering something most other Seattle-based professional teams are not - wins.

The Mariners, who are in last place in the AL West, are having an abysmal season, and the NBA's SuperSonics are in limbo after a franchise-worst 20-62 record last season.

Also, even if the Sonics move to Oklahoma City, the Storm will remain, thanks to the new Seattle-based owners.

The organization's goal is to market the Storm as Seattle's team. The Storm have made the playoffs the past five seasons, including winning the WNBA title in 2004.

"I think it’s going really well," Storm guard Swin Cash said. "They're trying to take ownership, and people are buying into it. It's something the city can be proud of."

Cash came to Seattle in the offseason after spending her first WNBA six seasons with the Detroit Shock. She was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft and helped Detroit win two WNBA titles (2003 and ’06).