Storm Signs Former WNBA MVP Yolanda Griffith

Griffith

April 8, 2008

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SEATTLE - The Seattle Storm continues to bolster their lineup for the 2008 WNBA season by adding the 1999 WNBA MVP. Storm Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Brian Agler announced today that Yolanda Griffith, who has spent her entire nine-year career in the WNBA with the Sacramento Monarchs, has signed with the Storm. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Yolanda brings a career’s worth of championship experience in winning environments to our team,” Agler said. “Her size and stability in the middle will certainly complement our current roster of players. We feel very good with Yolanda on our roster heading into training camp.”

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Griffith was named to the WNBA All-Decade team in 2006. She is a six-time WNBA All-Star and she has been named to the All-WNBA First Team twice (2005 and 1999) and All-WNBA Second Team three times (2004, 2001, 2000).

Well known for her defensive prowess, Griffith was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1999 and has been selected to the All-WNBA Defensive First Team twice (2005 and 1999) and Second Team once (2006). Griffith has also earned two gold medals with the U.S. National Women’s Basketball team at the Summer Olympics in 2000 and 2004.

“I’m very excited to join the Storm this season and make a run at another championship for the city of Seattle,” said Griffith. “I am looking forward to playing with the great roster of players that Coach Agler has put together in the offseason.”

After spending two seasons in the now-defunct American Basketball League, Griffith made an immediate impact after being selected second overall in the 1999 WNBA Draft. In her WNBA career, Griffith is in the Top 10 in five career statistical categories, including sixth all time in scoring with 4,002 points and second in total rebounds with 2,248.

She led the Monarchs to the 2005 WNBA Championship and was named Finals MVP after averaging 15.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in the four-game series with the Connecticut Sun.