Storm faces offseason of uncertainty for future

The US Airways Center scoreboard offered the day's forecast Sunday: STORM OVER.

Sitting 19 rows back from the court, fan Amanda Slepski's heart sank.

Back in the visitors' locker room, players like Sue Bird stripped off their green jerseys slowly, thinking it could be the last time they wear "Seattle" across their chest.

Phoenix game-operations staff meant the message more for the Mercury being able to sweep the Storm in the opening round of the best-of-three WNBA playoff series. But a handful of Seattleites who made the trip took it differently.

Since the July 2006 announcement of the sale of the Sonics and Storm for $350 million to Oklahoma-based businessmen, the organization and its fans have dealt with the uncertainty of the franchises' future.

"I tried to squeeze every little ounce of joy out of it that I could, knowing that it could be the last one," said Slepski, board president of Theatre Off Jackson, where she hosted seven Storm viewing parties this season. "It was really surreal [in Phoenix]. The painful thing was the placards of 'Storm Over.' It definitely felt like, 'What if this is the last game I ever go to?' "

Players tried not to think about the uncertainty, though media peppered them with questions throughout the summer. All-Star Lauren Jackson said Wednesday she felt she was playing to save the franchise at times, averaging a career-best 23.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in a season expected to win her another MVP award.

And as the group trickled out of its training facility parking lot Wednesday, it remained uncertain if the soft waves and smiles were a final goodbye. Clay Bennett, primary owner of the eight-member group, has given the city until Oct. 31 to devise an arena plan to retain the Sonics and Storm. Ownership seems poised to move the team to Oklahoma City.

Jackson and Bird were hit hardest with the news because they have purchased homes in Seattle. Jackson, who is under contract for one more season, has already stated she will not play in Oklahoma City, while Bird is an unrestricted free agent and prefers not to relocate.

"Our last game at the Key and seeing all the fans and seeing how emotional they were made me go, 'Oh, my God, this is really real,' " said Jackson of the standing ovation the team received despite a 17-point Game 1 loss. "Hopefully the team comes back. That's what everyone wants."

"I don't want to leave here," Bird said. "There's a lot of unknowns, which is a blessing in disguise because, for me personally, I want to see where the teams are going to be and I have to wait for the CBA [collective-bargaining agreement] anyway, so I'm in a holding pattern. There's nothing I can do. I can't control it."

The Storm will have a different look next summer regardless. Only starters Jackson and Iziane Castro Marques and reserves Tanisha Wright and rookie Katie Gearlds are under contract.

Most players expressed a need for Seattle to improve defensively. And Storm coach Anne Donovan said the expected pool of free agents this offseason excites her about the team's future.

Despite three consecutive first-round postseason exits with a roster packed with talent including Jackson, called by many "the best player in the world," Karen Bryant, the team's chief operating officer, expressed complete confidence in Donovan's ability to lead the team.

Bryant also said Bennett has confidence in the front-office staff, though he hasn't been around the team since it opened the season.

"I have all the confidence in the world in Anne as a head coach and as director of player personnel," Bryant said. "That's never wavered. She has the full support of not only me, but our ownership group. We're excited about getting to work, building a bright future in 2008."

On Stormfans.org, there has been a running discussion about the need to release Donovan. Some of those fans are simply frustrated and wonder if Donovan has too many responsibilities between her Storm duties and coaching Team USA. Donovan disagreed.

"It's not unmanageable at all," said Donovan, who follows former Houston coach Van Chancellor in balancing both the WNBA and Team USA. Chancellor led America to gold in 2004 with Donovan as an assistant coach on his staff. "With the help of Karen, we have the perfect team here to try to build a perfect roster for Seattle. It's not overwhelming in the least."

The Storm will not know its 2008 outlook until the league and players union agree to another collective-bargaining agreement. The current CBA, the league's fourth since unionizing in 1999, expires Sept. 16. Pam Wheeler, executive director of the WNBA players union, spoke with each team about the players' concerns and said incremental changes would be made to better their conditions. The union estimates just 31 percent of the current players were in the league the last time the CBA was renegotiated, prompting a bigger need to make the other 69 percent aware of key issues.

An increase in salary is a focus, particularly with the league selling its television rights for the first time to ESPN. The players are also concerned about the ability to sign more lucrative contracts overseas and not be penalized or cut for returning late to training camp, as well as the current lack of true free agency with the league's "core" system where, when tagged, a player can negotiate only with her original franchise.

"It's a step in progress," said Wright, who completed the third year of her rookie contract and learned from Donovan that Seattle plans to pick up the option for a fourth. "We can't expect things to change dramatically. As long as we keep taking small steps and those lead to large steps, this league has a chance."

There's also a precedent for independent ownership should the Sonics and Storm leave. Connecticut and Los Angeles are examples of how it can work, those franchises ranking among the league's best by averaging 7,970 and 8,695 fans. Sparks co-owner Katherine Goodman even offered to help potential buyers with her experience.

"But no one has contacted us," Goodman said earlier this season.

And how could anyone? Until Oct. 31, which is also the first day Bennett can file for relocation, the Storm and its fans wait.

"We had so many high hopes and expectations," said 11-year veteran Wendy Palmer, who could retire this offseason. "To fall short, it's very frustrating."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com