Abby Rathbun joined the Storm in 2024 as the premium service coordinator. Her days during the season are filled with coordinating VIP premium experiences. She works alongside the ticketing and premium services team to create unforgettable moments for guests all around the arena. 

For Women’s History Month, we sat down to chat about her unique background and how she came to work for the Storm. 

Tell us about your upbringing in Eastern Washington. 

I grew up on a cattle ranch in Moses Lake, WA. I learned a lot growing up in that type of environment, my parents built our ranch from the ground up and instilled strong values in me.  

At one point we were selected as representatives for Certified Angus Beef. My family and I would record radio ads and do photoshoots that would end up plastered around QFC supermarkets advertising homegrown beef and sporting events like the Apple Cup. 

I spent my summers raising steers from my cattle herd to show at county fairs, playing sports and prepping for the annual bull sale. Every season on the ranch brought new challenges, moving between calving, harvest or sale seasons. My 18 years taught me a lot about the importance of responsibilities and having a strong work ethic, that’s something I take with me everywhere I go. 

Where did you first realize you wanted to work in sports? 

I went to my first Storm game when I was in high school. I grew up playing basketball, but this was the first professional women’s basketball game I went to, and I remember thinking that there was an opportunity to be a part of sports outside of being one of the athletes on the hardwood.  

At that game, I distinctly remember thinking how much I wanted to be a part of it, whatever that looked like. I went home dreaming about working for the WNBA one day. 

Why is your work meaningful to you? 

I joined the Storm and the premium space during a time when the demand for these VIP experiences has increased from previous seasons; I was opening the door for more people to be able to enjoy these exclusive experiences at Storm games. 

We aren’t just selling a ticket, it’s all about the level of care we show each guest. We have people celebrating big life milestones with us, companies who buy out suites to recognize employees, all sorts of important moments in these people’s lives. Making those connections and providing the best level of service to them makes their experience at a Storm game that much better. I feel very fortunate that I get to be a representative of this organization to our guests. 

How did you end up at the Storm? 

I played basketball at the University of San Francisco and while I was there I was connected to Greg Sempadian, the Storm’s senior manager for ticket sales and fan experience. I came up to Seattle a few times during the 2022 and 2023 season to shadow him during Storm games and learn more about what working in the ticketing department would look like. He introduced me to a different section of ticketing, the premium space, and I was hooked. He was a great mentor of mine in college and still is today. Watching and learning from him over the years truly showed what it takes to bring the ultimate fan experience to the fans. 

Following graduation, I accepted a seasonal role as the premium service coordinator and worked the 2024 season alongside the rest of the front office staff. Then, in January of this year, I got an offer to stay full-time.  

For anyone looking to get into sports or premium hospitality, I would recommend a strong network. Meeting new people at events or reaching out via email or LinkedIn can be intimidating but it oftentimes opens doors of opportunity that could lead to something big down the line. 

What’s your why? 

I’ve always loved a challenge, and each day there is something new I get to create, troubleshoot, and accomplish. I love getting to share Storm games with our guests and see the impact we have on each person that walks through the arena doors.  

When I think back to where I came from and being at the Storm now, I see all of the opportunities that sports gave me. Growing up it provided me with confidence and team-building skills, and now as a professional, I have found my career within sports. Each time I interact with young fans I am reminded of how exciting each experience is for them. Being able to give back and create memorable experiences, that is irreplaceable.