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WNBA Seattle Storm

Seattle Sonics & Storm promote Karen Bryant to senior VP of communications and community development

June 6, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release


SEATTLE - The Seattle Sonics & Storm today announced the promotion of Karen Bryant to the position of senior vice president of communications and community development. In addition to her duties as Storm chief operating officer, Bryant will oversee the Sonics & Storm community relations and public relations departments and will continue to report to Sonics & Storm President and Chief Executive Officer Wally Walker.

"Given all she has accomplished with the Storm, complemented by the credibility she has established in the community and her astute strategic thinking, Karen is a natural for this important role," said Walker.

Bryant, who served as the Storm's chief operating officer for the past three years and its vice president of operations prior to that, has been with the organization since June 18, 1999. She was hired to be the original head of Storm operations, 11 days after Seattle was selected as one of four WNBA expansion teams that joined the league in the summer of 2000.

"This expanded role is a great opportunity to enhance my experience and contributions in professional sports," Bryant said. "The additional duties allow me to be both an ambassador in the community and to guide our organization's strategic communications plan."

Bryant will continue to emphasize her commitment to the popularity of women's professional basketball in the region. Under her leadership, the Storm remain one of the WNBA's most community-active teams.

Bryant was recently named one of the Puget Sound Business Journal's 2005 Women of Influence. Her work has contributed to achievements such as the Storm's 2004 WNBA Championship, as well as record-setting attendance for the club at KeyArena.

Bryant joined the organization after two years with the American Basketball League's Seattle Reign where she served as the team's director of basketball operations before being promoted to assistant general manager. In February of 1998, she became the Reign's general manager.

Active in the community, Bryant serves on the board of the Sonics & Storm Foundation and the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.

Prior to joining the professional sports world, Bryant worked for NBBJ Architects and established a project management consulting company, KMB Associates, in 1993.

A native of Edmonds, Wash., Bryant was a standout athlete at Woodway High School and played basketball at Green River Community College, Seattle University and the University of Washington, where she majored in communications.

The Seattle Sonics & Storm manages the Puget Sound region's professional basketball franchises - the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics and the WNBA's Seattle Storm. The organization oversees all sales, marketing, finance, public relations, broadcast production and basketball operations for both teams. The Basketball Club of Seattle LLC owns both teams.

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