Storm Chasers: Clay Bennett Sells WNBA Team To Local Group

WNBA Storm Being Sold To Seattle-Based Group

The WNBA Storm have been "sold to local owners, and the team will stay in Seattle,” according to sources cited by Jayda Evans of the SEATTLE TIMES. WNBA President Donna Orender and Storm COO Karen Bryant today are scheduled to make an announcement on the deal. The identity of the owners and terms of sale have not been released, but Bryant is "not believed to be one of the new owners.” Save Our Sonics & Storm co-Founder Brian Robinson said, “You always knew there would be a strong likelihood the Storm would stay. It’s good for fans of women’s basketball. And it ends a lot of uncertainty.” Sonics & Storm Owner Clay Bennett “had previously said many times that he would not separate the franchise and sell the Storm, but potential local, private ownership groups continued to approach him in order to buy the team and keep it in Seattle.” Since the Storm are now “believed to be independent, it will have to pay its own rent” at KeyArena, as well as its own "marketing and front-office support, which were once handled under the Sonics umbrella.” The club's lease with the arena expires after the ’08 season  (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/8). A source said that the new ownership group “includes at least one woman” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 1/8).