April 18 marked a new chapter for the Seattle Storm and the WNBA. The Storm unveiled their state-of-the-art Center for Basketball Performance, a brand-new facility for players and team staff.
Best of the Best
Seattle showed in a big way that they are committed to investing in their team and women’s basketball with their new facility. Per the release, the $64 million center is the first league practice facility that was designed and built from the ground up specifically for a WNBA team.
Designed with player needs, health and wellness, and high performance in mind, these are some of the stand-out features:
50,000 square feet
Two indoor practice courts
Two outdoor 3x3 courts
Exclusive Storm locker room, nutrition center, and player lounge
Strength and conditioning equipment
Health and wellness suites
Aquatic center
Offices for organization staff
The Storm also incorporated their history and team success throughout the facility. Championship trophies and memorabilia line the walls, Sue Bird’s signature is on the court, and there is a staircase made out of the floors from the arena when they won their championships.Â
In addition to being the home of the Seattle Storm, team owners announced that the facilities will be used for a new youth basketball league, the ‘Jr. Storm.’ The new youth development initiatives showcase the team's commitment to developing the next generation of players and supporting them early on.
Raising the Standard
Most WNBA teams do not have their own dedicated facilities or practice space. The Las Vegas Aces opened their facility in 2023 and the Phoneix Mercury has invested in a facility that should be opening later this year. Many players have voiced their opinions about the lack of investment in facilities by teams in the league, and the teams that are investing are starting to see the payoff.Â
When Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike were free agents and looking for new teams, the now Seattle Storm players both shared that the Storm’s new facilities and investment in the team were part of the deciding factor to sign with Seattle. It showed them that the owners in Seattle want their players to have the best resources available so that they can perform at the highest level on the court.
Las Vegas has been in a similar situation in recent years. The back-to-back reigning champions have seen their investments pay off in a big way on the court. Head coach Becky Hammond is the highest-paid female coach in the league and won championships in her first two seasons. They also landed Candace Parker when she was a free agent, and similar to Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike, was drawn to the investments in the team that the Aces were making.Â
With the Phoneix ownership creating a facility dedicated to the Mercury, it would not be surprising to see players wanting to make the move there in the coming years.
"Our new Center for Basketball Performance is a physical representation of our commitment to excellence and community." - Lisa Brummel, Seattle Storm co-owner
If teams and owners around the league want to retain their top players or attract stars, they will need to make investments in the things that are important to players. With the growth of women’s basketball, players know what they are worth and want to be in environments where they have the resources to win and be the best.