Storm to Play 2019 Season at Alaska Airlines Arena
January 08, 2019 | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE – The University of Washington women's basketball team is excited to partner with the Seattle Storm to play host to the defending WNBA Champions during the 2019 season as work to renovate KeyArena takes place. The announcement, which was made in August, will see the Storm play all but five games at Alaska Airlines Arena this upcoming season.
To celebrate our new roommates, the Huskies are inviting fans out to Seattle Storm Fan Day as UW takes on the University of Utah on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena. Special activities include a pregame photo booth with the Seattle Storm's three WNBA championship trophies, in-game recognition of the Seattle Storm CEO and select team owners, a performance by the Seattle Storm Dance Troupe and a special appearance by Storm mascot Doppler. The first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free reversible Seattle Storm/Washington Huskies roller banner! Tickets are available at http://gohuskies.com.
The Storm wrapped up its third WNBA title in 2018, sweeping the Washington Mystics in the WNBA Finals after posting a 26-8 record an earning the top seed in the playoffs. In addition to Sue Bird, Seattle will welcome back its core, including 2018 WNBA MVP and Finals MVP Breanna Stewart, the league's second-leading scorer last season at 21.8 points per game; 2018 WNBA Most Improved Player Natasha Howard; and 2018 All-Star guard Jewell Loyd. The WNBA's all-time leader in games coached, Dan Hughes enters his second season at the helm of the Storm.
Some of the highlights of the 2019 Storm schedule at Alaska Airlines Arena include:
- Seattle makes its debut at Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday, June 23 at 4 p.m. vs. Indiana.
- Kids Day will commence Wednesday, July 3 at noon as the Storm hosts the New York Liberty at Alaska Airlines Arena.
- University of Washington graduates Sami Whitcomb and the NCAA's all-time leading scorer Kelsey Plum will face off at Alaska Airlines Arena when the Las Vegas Aces visit Seattle on Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. It will mark the Storm's final home game before WNBA All-Star 2019 on Saturday, July 27 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
- Fan Appreciation Night will take place on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena vs. the Atlanta Dream.
"We are excited to host a portion of the Storm's 2019 home season here in Alaska Airlines Arena," University of Washington Athletic Director Jen Cohen said. "The partnership embodies our commitment to cultivating relationships within the Seattle community. Being an active member of a world-class city that has such a strong collegiate and professional presence makes this one of the most unique markets in the country and we are grateful to maintain strong bonds with the professional organizations in Seattle."
"The University of Washington and Huskies Athletic Department are incredible partners during the Seattle Center Arena redevelopment," said Storm President & GM Alisha Valavanis. "Entering our 20th season as a franchise, we are hopeful and excited to have our stellar fan base fill the seats at the University of Washington Alaska Airlines Arena. Our goal was to keep the Storm in Seattle and this beautiful partnership makes that possible!"
"This partnership between the Seattle Storm and the University of Washington cements the fact that Seattle has the best sports teams – supported by the best fans – in the world," said City of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. "While I look forward to the Storm returning to a world-class facility at the new Seattle Center Arena, I'll be rooting for our world championship Storm in their temporary home at Alaska Airlines Arena."
WE ARE STAYING IN SEATTLE! ??????@UW's Alaska Airlines Arena will be our primary home in 2019! ???? #WeRepSeattle
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) August 15, 2018
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The full 2019 Seattle Storm schedule can be found at https://storm.wnba.com/schedule.
