Ready to have a ball? The Seattle Storm will tip off their WNBA season tomorrow, May 20, at Climate Pledge Arena with a whole lot of fresh faces on the roster.
Their first opponent is the Las Vegas Aces, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in 2022 when legend Sue Bird was making her final run before retirement. Not that we’re still bitter or anything.
Before the referee blows the whistle, we want to make sure you’re up to speed on a glossary of terms new fans may not be fully familiar with yet.
“Take Cover”
This is a Storm rallying cry and slogan, which you might see used in hashtags or on signs from fans if you go to a home game. It’s a play on the standard procedure people should use when a Storm is coming — because they’re relentless, get it? Still, no umbrellas, please.
The “Gold Mamba”
The team’s biggest star is Jewell Loyd, whose glittery nickname, “Gold Mamba,” was bestowed by her mentor the late NBA great Kobe Bryant. In addition to honoring Bryant’s “Black Mamba” moniker, Loyd used to go to Notre Dame, which had gold as its dominant school color.
“Big Three (Minus Two)”
Speaking of Loyd, she was once part of the Storm’s so-called “Big Three” alongside Bird and Breanna Stewart. The “Gold Mamba” is dancing solo now, since Bird ended her career and Stewart signed with the New York Liberty — sigh. Loyd will have support, though, with promising rookies like the team’s top draft pick Jordan Horston.
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 30 when Stewie returns in an opposing uniform — it’ll be so weird. And get the tissues out for Sunday, June 11, when the team will retire Bird’s jersey. Another word for that: “tearjerker.”
