T-shirt giveaway and spoken word halftime entertainment to highlight Storm return to WNBA basketball

SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm starts its 2023 slate on Saturday, May 20, with Opening Day presented by Providence Swedish. The team’s first game of the season is set against Western Conference rival and 2022 WNBA Champions Las Vegas Aces, at Climate Pledge Arena with tip-off scheduled for Noon. To celebrate, Providence Swedish is providing 5,000 fans with a chance to score a free T-shirt.

Providence Swedish, the largest health care delivery system in Western Washington and long-standing partner of the Seattle Storm, returns for their eighth season, with a season-long focus on mental health awareness. Their first initiative with the team takes place on May 22 with a webinar aimed at Providence caregivers and providers. Themed “Being Human in High Stress Roles”, it includes participation from Storm Center Ezi Magbegor, and other guests.

“Our longtime partnership with Providence Swedish has been anchored on the exceptional care they provide our athletes and the tremendous community initiatives we champion together,” said Alisha Valavanis, Storm President and CEO. “This season, the opportunity to use our shared platforms to promote mental health awareness in our communities will be the next major focus for our work together.

“We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the Seattle Storm as their official health care partner. Since 2016, our sports medicine team has been providing state-of-the-art sports medicine care helping Storm players and staff manage their acute injuries, maximize rehabilitation and training, prevent injuries, and navigate general health needs. We are very excited to expand our partnership to focus on important issues in the community such as mental health awareness,” said Elizabeth Wako, M.D., Interim President and CEO of Swedish Health Services.

The Saturday match-up marks the official Storm return to Climate Pledge Arena since September 6, 2022, when the home team concluded its season following a nail-biting 97-92 loss to Las Vegas in the WNBA semifinals. The rematch comes with a completely rebuilt Storm as only three players from that roster are back to the Emerald City: Jewell Loyd, Mercedes Russell, and Ezi Magbegor.

General Manager Talisa Rhea and Head Coach Noelle Quinn returned Sami Whitcomb and brought in WNBA veterans Kia Nurse and Yvonne Turner. Also donning the Storm jersey for the first time are Rookies Jordan Horston, Jade Melbourne, Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and Ivana Dojkic, plus second-year free agency acquisition Arella Guirantes and third-year free agency acquisition Kaila Charles.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. PT on Saturday and fans can head to the main concourse by sections 7 and 8 to pick up one of the 5,000 free T-shirts that celebrate the new era of Storm Basketball. At halftime, the Storm is proud to present international award-winning spoken word artist Trey Baker.

Tickets for Opening Day presented by Providence Swedish are still available. For more information on Storm 360 Season Ticket Memberships, single game tickets, Storm Mini Plans, and Group Experiences, visit http://stormbasketball.com, or call 206-217-WNBA (9622).