Storm Re-Signs Burse, Signs Bibby

March 3, 2005

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Burse

SEATTLE - The defending WNBA Champion Seattle Storm today re-signed 6-5 center Janell Burse to a contract, Storm Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Anne Donovan announced.

Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A four-year veteran, Burse averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 29 games last season. Burse was originally drafted by the Lynx in the second round (28th overall) of the 2001 WNBA Draft. The 2004 season will mark Burse’s second year with the Storm.

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In April of 2004, Storm acquired Burse along with Sheri Sam from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for forward Amanda Lassiter and the Storm’s first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2004 WNBA Draft.

The defending champion Storm also added Australian free-agent guard Jessica Bibby to the team’s roster.

Bibby has played for the Dandenong Rangers in Australia’s WNBL since 1996. In 2000, Bibby suited up for the WNBA’s New York Liberty. The Rangers were WNBL Champions for the second season in a row during their 2004-05 campaign, and the 25 year-old Bibby was named the team’s most improved player.

Bibby previously played for the New York Liberty. Otto Greule Jr./NBAE/Getty

Bibby averaged 13.9 points for Dandenong during the 2004-05 season and scored 10 points in the Grand Final as the Rangers defeated Sydney University 52-47 on Feb. 19.

“We are pleased to have Janell return to the Storm roster this season,” said Donovan. “Her tenacity off the bench was a key part of the success we had last year.”

“Regarding Jessica, her experience in the WNBL and WNBA will be a great asset to our roster and will add depth to our point guard position.”

The Storm will open the 2005 WNBA season on Saturday, May 21 against Western Conference rival the Los Angeles Sparks at KeyArena.

For information on 2005 Storm season tickets, call 206-217-WNBA or log onto storm.wnba.com.

The Seattle Sonics & Storm manages the Puget Sound region’s professional basketball franchises – the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. The organization oversees all sales, marketing, finance, public relations, broadcast production and basketball operations for the teams. The Basketball Club of Seattle LLC owns both teams.