SEATTLE— For 20 years, the Seattle Storm has used its platform to recognize women who have made significant contributions to the Greater Puget Sound community. What began in 2006 as Inspiring Women Night has evolved into Believe in Women Night presented by Symetra, an annual Force4Change initiative that has honored more than 80 women whose leadership and work have created pathways for women and girls to thrive.  

For the first time, fans and community members were invited to nominate women from across the community for this esteemed honor. The Storm received more than 65 nominations, which the players narrowed down to four honorees: Michelle Dean, Olympia Edwards, Olu Fagbemiro and Feleata Ma’ae.

“Celebrating women means more than recognizing what they’ve accomplished, it means showing the next generation what leadership can look like,” said Storm Chief Social Impact Officer Sheridan Blanford. “Believe in Women has given us the opportunity to uplift the stories of women whose vision, resilience and leadership are changing their communities. Every year, we’re reminded that leadership takes many forms, and each of these women is showing us what’s possible when you lead with purpose.”  

The honorees will be recognized at halftime during Believe in Women Night on Thursday, September 17, when the Storm hosts the Las Vegas Aces at Climate Pledge Arena. During the celebration, each honoree will receive a donation to an organization of their choice in celebration of their contributions to the community. 

“At Symetra, we believe that when you empower women, you transform entire communities. As Believe in Women Night’s longtime sponsor, it is an absolute honor to support an initiative that shines a well-deserved spotlight on extraordinary leaders. The dedication of these four remarkable women reminds us that meaningful change starts with the courage to lead,” said Symetra Chief Marketing Officer Trinity Parker. 

Meet the 2026 Believe in Women honorees: 

Michelle Dean is the co‑founder of Bonhomie Coffee, a Haitian‑inspired mobile café that has become one of Seattle’s most beloved cultural gathering spots. She selected P4H Global as the recipient of her Believe in Women donation. P4H Global equips people and communities through training and empowers local leaders to create sustainable change.  

Olympia Edwards is a mentor, community advocate, and founder/CEO of Project Girl. She chose Project Girl as the recipient of her Believe in Women donation, supporting its work to empower young women of color through mentorship, mental health services and leadership development. 

Olu Fagbemiro is the founder of Aneden Gives and CEO of Aneden Consulting. Inspired by her own fertility journey, she founded Aneden Gives in 2018 to help families overcome financial barriers to fertility treatment through grants. She is directing her Believe in Women donation to further Aneden’s mission. 

Feleata Ma’ae is a local entrepreneur and founder of Poly Drip, a Seattle-based brand that celebrates Pacific Islander culture through luxury tote bags, purses and exclusive apparel. She will direct her Believe in Women donation toward the continued growth of her business and its work to honor and uplift her heritage. 

For the full list of past Believe in Women honorees, click here.