Seattle Storm and Starbucks Coffee Company tip off community All-Star week Sunday
June 30, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release
SEATTLE -The Seattle Storm and Starbucks Coffee Company will honor numerous community all-stars, including the University of Washington athlete Kayla Burt and mountain climber Danielle Fisher, when the Storm take on the Sacramento Monarchs this Sunday at 6 p.m. The team will also recognize forward Alicia Thompson, who has been named by the league as a recipient of the WNBA's 2005 Off-Season Community Assist award.
Tickets for Sunday's game are still available and can be purchased through TicketMaster, by logging on to storm.wnba.com, or by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX. Storm tickets are also available at the Sonics & Storm Team Shop, located at 312 First Ave. on KeyArena's West Plaza. The first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Starbucks Rally Towel.
Burt, a former Everett Herald High School Player of the Year, joined the UW women's basketball team in 2001 and appeared in 34 games before a life-threatening heart condition forced her from the game. Initially diagnosed with Long Q-T Syndrome, Burt rejoined her team as a student assistant coach and worked to teach and inspire her younger teammates. This past season, Burt completed her comeback, overcoming numerous obstacles to return to the court. Despite playing with a defibrillator implanted in her chest, she led the Huskies in scoring, averaging 9.6 points per game.
Fisher, a native of Bow, Wash., recently became the youngest person ever to climb the Seven Summits-the tallest peaks of the seven continents. She completed the feat on June 2, when she reached the summit of Mt. Everest. Fisher began her quest in 2003, and completed her seventh climb at the age of 20. The previous record holder was 23, and the youngest woman to scale all seven peaks was 33.
As part of Sunday's festivities, the Storm will also recognize forward Alicia Thompson prior to tipoff for her outstanding involvement in the Seattle community. Thompson was recently named as a winner of the WNBA's Off-Season Community Assist award, given to one member of each WNBA team in recognition of off-court community contributions.
Thompson remained in the Seattle area this past offseason and made numerous appearances at local schools and community organizations to discuss the importance of education, goal-setting and maintaining a positive self image. She continues to be a role model for Seattle's youth, and her offseason appearances reached more than 4,000 children. In recognition of Thompson's off-court achievements, the WNBA will make a $500 donation to the Lupus Foundation of America-Pacific Northwest Chapter.
The Storm will also welcome other special community guests to Sunday's celebration of community all-stars, including three female Seattle police officers who will perform the anthem and numerous recipients of Starbucks Neighborhood Park Grants.
As part of Starbucks' $1 million commitment to local parks in 2005, 30 grants of $15,000 each have been awarded to neighborhood organizations undertaking park improvement projects in communities throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. These organizations and their efforts to improve their local communities were recognized at an awards ceremony and community celebration held in Seattle in June.
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 and basketball operations for the teams. The Basketball Club of Seattle LLC owns both teams.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 30, 2005
- Sting guard Dawn Staley selected WNBA All-Star starter - Charlotte Sting
- Yolanda Griffith named starter for 2005 WNBA All-Star Game - Sacramento Monarchs
- Seattle Storm and Starbucks Coffee Company tip off community All-Star week Sunday - Seattle Storm
- Phoenix Mercury guard Taurasi makes first All-Star Game - Phoenix Mercury
- WNBA Announces 2005 All-Star Starting Lineups - WNBA
- Pistons to hold tryouts for Automotion dance team - Detroit Shock
- Shock Host Inaugural Kids' Day July 17 - Detroit Shock
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
