Seattle Storm

We are taking a look back at the top Seattle sports stories of 2020. But it's not a typical countdown, as we hear from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick. 

Jeff Natter says that being in Key Arena for the Seattle Storm's first championship win was electric.

"As a sports fan," he said, "I've never felt anything like being there in 2004, seeing the confetti come down from the rafters and having 17,000 people all jumping for joy, crying each other's arms." 

The Seattle Storm won its fourth championship title Tuesday night, after sweeping the Las Vegas Aces in the finals. The team's 92-59 rout was the biggest margin of victory in WNBA Finals history. Can the Storm sustain this level of success? KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked about the team's future and the excitement of this past week with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

The City of Seattle is hosting a virtual rally for the Storm today to celebrate the champs. The online celebration begins at 4 p.m. 

The Seattle Storm have begun their quest for a fourth championship title. They're playing the Las Vegas Aces in the best-of-five WNBA Finals. Game 1 is 4 p.m. Friday. KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked about the matchup with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.  

Some Seattle sports teams were impacted this week by COVID-19 testing and protocols, put in place by their leagues. KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick talked about the fallout, starting with a mask fine that cost the Seahawks $250,000 and head coach Pete Carroll $100,000.

The Seattle Storm will begin their WNBA playoff run on Sunday in a best-of-five semifinal series against the Minnesota Lynx. KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked about the team's chances in the postseason with Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

The Seattle Storm and the other 11 teams in the WNBA will head to Florida next month to begin a shortened season amid the coronavirus pandemic. We learn more from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick. 

"It's a deal that represents moving forward both from a WNBA perspective, but also in general, for women in sports and society." That's how Seattle Storm veteran Sue Bird described, in an interview with The Seattle Times, the tentative labor agreement reached this week between the WNBA and its players union.

Bird is a member of the Players Association executive committee. The eight-year contract still needs approval from the league's board of governors, but KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel told Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick that it's a big improvement.

The Seattle Storm's season doesn't start until next month, but the team already has suffered a few setbacks. At the top of the list: the loss of star player Breanna Stewart. It's the topic of this week's conversation between KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

Officials behind the transformation of KeyArena remain optimistic about the project, despite newly reported cost increases and a longer timeline.

The best players and moments in Washington sports from 2018 were honored Thursday night in Seattle. The annual Sports Star of the Year awards were presented. Among the winners: KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel. He received the Keith Jackson Award for excellence in communicating the sports stories of our state.

Thiel talked with KNKX Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick about the awards. He also offered some interesting facts about sports fans in Washington.

Seattle Storm fans will gather at Seattle Center this Sunday to honor the team. They won their third WNBA title this week, defeating the Washington Mystics in a three-game sweep.

KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel tells host Kirsten Kendrick that the Storm was the team to beat all season. And they had a not-so-secret weapon.

The Seattle Storm will play the Phoenix Mercury in the semi-final round of the WNBA playoffs. The first game is Sunday at 2 p.m. at KeyArena.

KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked to Morning Edition Host Kirsten Kendrick about how the Storm has stood out this season.

The Seattle Storm is on fire this season with the best record in the WNBA. And three Storm players were named league All-Stars this week: Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd. For Sue Bird, it’s a season of records as we hear from KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel and Morning Edition host Kirsten Kendrick.

Seattle hosts the WNBA All-Star Game for the first time Saturday afternoon at KeyArena. One of the big draws for local fans will be to honor Storm veteran Sue Bird.

KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel talked with 88'5’s Kirsten Kendrick about Bird – and her team – being in the national spotlight this week.

The WNBA playoffs open Wednesday night with a pair of games showcasing the league's revamped playoff format. First up will be the single-elimination games as fifth-seeded Indiana hosts No. 8 Phoenix and seventh-seed Seattle is at No. 6 Atlanta. Sports Commentator Art Thiel says the new "one-and-done" format could actually be a boon for the Seattle Storm.

The WNBA is on a break while the gold-medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Basketball Team defends its Olympic title in Rio. Two Seattle Storm players are on the roster: rookie Breanna Stewart and veteran Sue Bird.

Sports commentator Art Thiel talked with KPLU's Kirsten Kendrick about Team USA and the Storm’s season so far.

A revised agreement for a new Seattle sports arena that was unveiled this week got people talking again about the future of KeyArena. As part of the amended deal with lead investor Chris Hansen, the city negotiated $7 million for upgrades to KeyArena and a study about its future.

That future may not include the Seattle Storm, according to KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel.

The success of the Seattle Storm has led to some pretty high-profile women's basketball events being held in the city. One of them is Saturday night at KeyArena.

The U.S. Women's National team will play the Chinese Women's National team in an exhibition game at 7:30 p.m. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says this is a big deal for fans of women's basketball and for the city.

There were some bright spots in the local sports scene in 2011. But not many. Find out what KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel named as the high points and low points of the year.

They may have won it all in 2010, but this year the Seattle Storm reverted back to their old habit of exiting the playoffs in the first round. They've done it six out of the last seven years.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says injuries and exhaustion were big factors.

"Your star player will be out for the rest of the season, and maybe the playoffs. Now ... SMILE!"

That was pretty much the scenario for members of the Seattle Storm this week when the 2010 WNBA champions were honored by President Obama at the White House.

As they were taking photos in the White House Rose Garden, most of the team learned that three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson – "the heart and soul of the Storm," according to KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel – was to have hip surgery. She's expected to be out up to three months.