As president and CEO of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, Karen Bryant is oneof the league’s most dynamic executives. She has led the Storm to twoWNBA titles and was instrumental in the team in 2010 securing its marqueejersey sponsorship deal with Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Under Bryant’sleadership, the team has signed a slew of additional new deals that have boostedthe Storm’s sponsorship revenue by 200 percent in the last year. The team had a90 percent season-ticket renewal rate leading into the 2011 season, as well.
Bryant also had a hand earlier this year in the league hiring its new president,Laurel Richie. Bryant met Richie at a local function and immediately referred herto league executives. A few months later, Richie was hired by NBA CommissionerDavid Stern to lead the WNBA. It’s those efforts and instincts that have helpedBryant become regarded as one of the league’s top managers.
— John Lombardo
WHAT OTHERSARE SAYING
“Karen comes at [her job] withher own love of the sport, and shebrings her own personal as well asprofessional passion to her work, andthat is very evident to everyone whohas worked with her over the years.”
- Darlene Corkrum, senior vice president, chief marketing officer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, a team partner
