 Clinesmith starred last year in the NWBL. Allen Einstein/WNBAE/Getty |
The Storm also signed a rookie free agent with local ties - UW forward/center Andrea Lalum.
Clinesmith, the MVP of this year's NWBL All-Star game after scoring a game-high 15 points, is a Washington native who was named the state high school Player of the Year in 1996 after leading Mead High School to the Class AAA state title. Clinesmith went on to UC-Santa Barbara, where she averaged 12.3 points and 5.1 assists over the course of her career. The 30th pick of the 2000 Draft, Clinesmith spent a season and a half in Sacramento and played in Detroit during the 2002 season. She was cut at the end of last year's training camp when the Shock picked up another point guard and Washington native, Sheila Lambert.
"It's unbelievable," Clinesmith said. "Who wouldn't want to play in their home state? I've always wanted to play for Seattle. I loved Sacramento, I loved Detroit, but there's something about playing close to home where your family can watch. It's a huge opportunity for me, so I'm really excited."
Thompson, a 6-1 forward who has four years of WNBA experience, is no stranger to Storm Coach Anne Donovan. Thompson was a starter for Donovan during her season as Interim Coach of the Indiana Fever. That 2000 campaign was the best of Thompson's career, as she averaged 10.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 51.4% shooting (good for fifth in the WNBA that season). The ninth pick of the 1998 Draft by New York, Thompson spent just one season with the Liberty. She played for Indiana for three years before being released near the end of last year's training camp.
Donovan called Thompson "one of the best rebounders I've ever coached", an impressive compliment for a 6-1 forward.
"I've always had a knack for the ball, knowing where the ball is going to come off, reading a person who shoots on a certain part of the floor, knowing where the ball is going to come off," Thompson explained. "Rebounding really is just hustle, really wanting the ball. Also, I have pretty good leaping ability, I have to credit that."
 Donovan and Thompson are excited to be reunited. Ron Hoskins/WNBAE/Getty |
"Anywhere where she was was always an option, because I said - I sat out last year - I said if I come back to the league, Coach Donovan would be the coach that I wanted to play for," Thompson said. "I really just respect her, I think she's a great coach, she really knows the game, and when she left Indiana I was really upset because I had enjoyed playing for her."
Walseth, a Penn State product, averaged better than 13 points per game on 50%-plus shooting her last two seasons with the Nittany Lions. She began her career as Clinesmith's teammate in Sacramento, a third-round pick by the Monarchs who spent part of the 2001 season with the team. Walseth saw more action in 2002, when she played 18 games with the Washington Mystics, and spent last year's training camp with the New York Liberty.
"(Assistant) coach (Jessie) Kenlaw saw me playing in that (the NWBL) and so they approached me," Walseth said. "There was interest from other teams, but this just seemed to be the best fit from what they were saying and what they needed and where I felt more comfortable."
Lalum recently concluded a stellar career at the University of Washington. Lalum peaked as a senior, averaging 16.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game to make the All-Pac-10 first team. Known for her versatility, the 6-4 center was a three-point threat for the Huskies, hitting 136 threes in her career at a 35.3% clip.
"Hopefully I can bring something that nobody else has," Lalum said. "I'm a solid five, but I'm diverse enough to shoot the three, so maybe that's something that they don't necessarily have that they can use me as."
Lalum chose the Storm over three other teams, including Los Angeles and Phoenix.
"It's been such a blessing to stay close to home, to familiar territory, to where I have friends and support, so that I can sleep in my own bed," explained Lalum. "That's something that's been really nice so far. I just want to go out there and make an impression, hopefully, on the coaching staff and my teammates."
