With a 10-16 record and 8 games left in the 2017 regular season, Seattle parts ways with third-year head coach Jenny Boucek

SEATTLE – The Seattle Storm has announced that the franchise has parted ways with Jenny Boucek. 14-year WNBA coaching veteran and current Storm assistant coach Gary Kloppenburg has been named interim head coach, effective immediately.

“I believe new leadership is needed at this time to give our team the best chance at short and long term success,” said Storm President & GM Alisha Valavanis. “I am grateful for the passion and commitment Jenny has demonstrated throughout her time with the Seattle Storm. She has been an important part of our organization and we wish her well in the next steps of her career.”

Kloppenburg is in his second stint with the Storm, having previously served under then-head coach Lin Dunn with the Storm from 2000-02. He spent 2003 with Phoenix, and resumed ties with Dunn in Indiana (2008-11) before embarking on a head-coaching role with Tulsa in 2012 and 2013. He was an assistant with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2014 and he joined Stephanie White’s staff with the Indiana Fever in 2015-16. In addition to his WNBA experience, Kloppenburg served on the staff of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats for three seasons between 2004-2007.

During her run as head coach, Boucek led Seattle to a 36-58 record, and is 76-99 overall in the WNBA. She was named head coach on Jan. 20, 2015 after serving as an associate head coach with the Storm under Brian Agler in 2014, and as an assistant with the franchise from 2010-13 and 2003-05. Prior to rejoining the Storm, Boucek was the head coach with the Sacramento Monarchs from 2007-09.

Seattle heads to Phoenix for a 7 p.m. PT tipoff on Aug. 12 before returning home for a two-game homestand, Aug. 16 vs. Minnesota and Aug. 18 vs. San Antonio, both games slated for a 7 p.m. PT tipoff at KeyArena.