Champion Storm re-sign Burse
March 3, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release
SEATTLE â The defending WNBA Champion Seattle Storm today re-signed 6-5 center Janell Burse to a contract, Storm Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Anne Donovan announced.
Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
A four-year veteran, Burse averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 29 games last season. Burse was originally drafted by the Lynx in the second round (28th overall) of the 2001 WNBA Draft. The 2004 season will mark Burse's second year with the Storm.
In April of 2004, Storm acquired Burse along with Sheri Sam from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for forward Amanda Lassiter and the Storm's first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2004 WNBA Draft.
The Storm also added Australian free-agent guard Jessica Bibby to the team's roster. Bibby has played for the Dandenong Rangers in Australia's WNBL since 1996. In 2000, Bibby suited up for the WNBA's New York Liberty. The Rangers were WNBL Champions for the second season in a row during their 2004-05 campaign, and the 25 year-old Bibby was named the team's most improved player.
"We are pleased to have Janell return to the Storm roster this season," said Storm Head Coach Anne Donovan. "Her tenacity off the bench was a key part of the success we had last year."
"Regarding Jessica, her experience in the WNBL and WNBA will be a great asset to our roster and will add great depth to our point guard position."
The Storm will open the 2005 WNBA season on Saturday, May 21 against their Western Conference rival Los Angeles Sparks at KeyArena.
For information on 2005 Storm season tickets, fans can call 206-217-WNBA or log on to storm.wnba.com.
The Seattle Sonics & Storm manages the Puget Sound region's professional basketball franchises â the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics and the WNBA's Seattle Storm. The organization oversees all sales, marketing, finance, public relations and basketball operations for the teams. The Basketball Club of Seattle LLC owns both teams.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from March 3, 2005
- Storm sign former Connecticut Sun guard Adrienne Johnson - Seattle Storm
- Monarchs to host Chinese National Team and Phoenix for 2005 preseason games - Sacramento Monarchs
- Monarchs acquire 2004 Stanford standout Nicole Powell in trade for Smith - Sacramento Monarchs
- Sting acquire Tangela Smith from Monarchs in four-player deal - Charlotte Sting
- Brian Agler Joins Silver Stars Coaching Staff - San Antonio Stars
- Seattle Storm announce 2005 preseason schedule - Seattle Storm
- Champion Storm re-sign Burse - Seattle Storm
- Comets Release 2005 Preseason Schedule - Houston Comets
- Mystics announce preseason schedule - Washington Mystics
- Sting announce 2005 preseason schedule - Charlotte Sting
- WNBA Announces 2005 Preseason Schedule - WNBA
- Sting sign free agent forward Linda Frohlich - Charlotte Sting
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