Storm Signs Shaquala Williams

May 11, 2004


Williams
SEATTLE � The Seattle Storm today signed 5-6 guard Shaquala Williams, Storm Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Anne Donovan announced.

A product of the University of Oregon and a Portland native, Williams was drafted in the third round of the 2003 Draft by the Cleveland Rockers, 30th overall. At the conclusion of training camp on May 21, Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks for a third-round selection in 2004.

Williams spent the entire season with the Sparks, appearing in 25 games and averaging 2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 9.2 minutes per game. During her only opportunity to receive extended playing time in mid-July, she averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists on 55% shooting during a three-game stretch, two of them starts.

Williams scored a career-high 13 points against the Phoenix Mercury on Jul. 24 and was in double-figures twice. She saw action in four playoff games as the Sparks advanced to the WNBA Finals.

During the off-season, Williams served as an assistant coach at Sacramento State University under Head Coach Dan Muscatell, an assistant during Williams' career at Oregon. While with the Ducks, Williams was the Pac-10's Player of the Year and its leading scorer in 1999-00 and an All-Pac-10 selection each of the three full seasons she played.

The Sparks waived Williams on May 6.

The Storm will play their second preseason game against the Sacramento Monarchs on Friday, May 14 at Arco Arena in Sacramento at 7 p.m. Seattle will play one home preseason game on Sunday, May 16 at 6 p.m. against the Phoenix Mercury at KeyArena.

Seattle will open the 2004 WNBA season against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, May 20 at KeyArena.

Single-game tickets for all Storm home games at KeyArena can be purchased by logging on to storm.wnba.com or by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX or. For information on 2004 Storm season tickets, group tickets and ticket packages, call 206-217-WNBA or log on to storm.wnba.com.