Storm Plans to Honor Tina Thompson
in Final Regular-Season Game

Ceremony Includes Original Art, Fan Scrapbook and Nike T-shirt Giveaway

September 9, 2013


SEATTLE � In her final WNBA regular-season game, fans of Tina Thompson will have one last opportunity to show appreciation and celebrate her accomplishments.

�It's been a privilege to have Tina on our team and representing our franchise these past two years,� said Storm President & CEO Karen Bryant. �Our organization and our fans are honored to celebrate her historic 17-year WNBA career and her final regular-season home game on our court.�

In a special postgame ceremony, fans will have a final chance to say thank you to Thompson. Prior to Sept. 14, fans can email personal messages to TinaTribute@StormBasketball.com to be included in the scrapbook that will be presented to Thompson at the ceremony. Nike has donated 5,000 shirts for the first 5,000 fans to enter KeyArena on Sept. 14 at 6 p.m., one hour before Seattle takes on Tulsa in the team�s final regular-season game.

�Tina Thompson is a vibrant example of showing the world what�s possible,� said WNBA President Laurel Richie. �The stats tell the story of her impressive on-court performance, but the truest testament on her long-lasting contribution to the WNBA, beyond her red lipstick of course, is the impact she�s had on young players all across the league. So many of them have spoken so eloquently of the time she�s spent with them, helping them learn, develop and adjust to the professional game. This, I believe, will be her greatest legacy.�

�We are so fortunate to have had Tina Thompson as part of the Seattle Storm over the past two seasons,� said Storm head coach and general manager Brian Agler. �She is the consummate winner, competitor and champion. The Seattle Storm of 2013 faced tremendous adversity entering the season. Having an all-star season, Tina helped lead the Storm back into the playoffs, which is no small measure, because of her leadership, persistence, resiliency and focus toward our goals.�

In addition, many influential people from Thompson�s past and present have been invited to the game. The attendees include: Laurel Richie, WNBA President; Renee Brown, WNBA Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations and Cynthia Cooper, former Houston Comets teammate.

Chicago-based artist Bill Parrish, an accomplished artist who has previously been commissioned for pieces of NBA players including Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, felt a calling to do the same for Thompson on a volunteer basis. He has donated a piece of work to be presented to Thompson at the ceremony.

�This is my way of saying thank you to her for what she has done for women�s basketball,� said Parrish. �She has been such a great ambassador, leader and representative for women�s basketball. Not many people have accomplished what she has.�

The Storm takes on Tulsa at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 for its last regular-season home game at KeyArena.



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