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Seattle Storm

Seattle Re-Signs Alysha Clark; Signs Meighan Simmons

February 20, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release


SEATTLE - Seattle Storm President & General Manager Alisha Valavanis today announced that the franchise has re-signed forward Alysha Clark. Additionally, the Storm has signed free agent guard Meighan Simmons.

"Alysha brings a special enthusiasm and energy to this team, this franchise," said Valavanis. "You can feel the connection between our fans and Alysha on game day and in the community. She is a great role model for the youth in the Seattle community and we are excited to have her back in Seattle."

Drafted 17th overall by San Antonio in 2010, Clark signed with the Storm as a free agent prior to the 2012 WNBA season. Entering her fourth season with the Storm, she holds career averages of 3.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. She started 22 games for the Storm in 2014, cracking the starting lineup for the first time in her career on May 23, 2014 at Connecticut. She posted a career-high four blocks on Opening Night, May 16, 2014 vs. Los Angeles, and pulled down a season-high six rebounds at San Antonio on July 11, 2014.

"It is such a blessing to be able to play for an organization and a coach that believes so much in me, both as a player and a person," said Clark. "I love Seattle, it has become a second home to me, and I am so glad I get to be back at KeyArena with the most amazing fans."

Currently playing overseas in Israel for Maccabi Ashdod, Clark is averaging team-highs in both points (16.6 per game) and rebounds (8.1 per game). Ashdod is in first place with an 18-0 record.

Clark spent the 2013-14 WNBA offseason as an assistant coach for her alma mater, Middle Tennessee State, coaching under Rick Insell. During her tenure, MTSU cracked the AP Top-25 rankings for the first time since 2009, racked up a 17-game winning streak, won the Conference USA regular season and conference tournament titles and was awarded a No. 8 seed in the 2014 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

One of Middle Tennessee's most decorated players, Clark spent two seasons in a Blue Raider uniform, logging 1,756 career points for eighth all-time in program history. Clark averaged 27.9 points and 10.7 rebounds during her tenure. She was a two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Year twice in two prior seasons at Belmont. Clark is believed to be the only player in NCAA history, male or female, to win player of the year honors in two different conferences. With her tenure completed at Belmont and Middle Tennessee, she finished her career tied for fourth in NCAA history with 75 double-doubles and 12th in NCAA history with 2,852 points.

Meighan Simmons was drafted 26th overall to the New York Liberty in the 2014 WNBA Draft. Simmons appeared in all three Liberty preseason games in 2014, averaging 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds. An All-American at the University of Tennessee, she was a finalist for the National Player of the Year Award as a senior. Simmons became the fifth Lady Vol in school history to score over 2,000 career points.

Seattle opens the 2015 season on June 6 vs. Los Angeles. Storm 360 Memberships, starting at $179, are still available by calling (206) 217-WNBA (9622) or by visiting StormBasketball.com.

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