The initial reaction was a marketing nightmare.

Tina Thompson, 37, signing with the Storm?

"Better replace some of the bench with rocking chairs," commented a fan from New York. Others threatened not to renew their season tickets, and many fretted about Seattle getting older, not younger, as coach and general manager Brian Agler had said the team would.

But Agler forged on, signing the unrestricted free agent Monday. He also re-signed Polish center Ewelina Kobryn, 29, to a qualifying offer. Earlier in the offseason the Storm had signed or traded for Katie Smith (37), Ann Wauters (31) and Victoria Dunlap (22).

"Our long-term goal is to try to find young talent and we've been pretty consistent about that so that we're ready for the post Sue (Bird) and Lauren (Jackson) days," said Agler, whose team will try to make a WNBA-record ninth consecutive playoff appearance this season. "But I don't think we ever talked about not trying to stay competitive. Tina gives us the opportunity to stay competitive."

Thompson is a 15-year WNBA veteran who averaged a career-low 9.9 points last season for Los Angeles. Look deeper and see Thompson in her three seasons with the Sparks was heavily relied upon on an injured-plagued roster and able to produce more than anticipated.

In fact, in 2010, when leading scorer Candace Parker suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in June, the offense shifted to Thompson, a 6-foot-2 forward. She helped turn Los Angeles' 4-13 start into a playoff bound 9-8 finish, averaging 21.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in August.

Los Angeles ultimately lost to Seattle in the opening round of the WNBA playoffs.

"She really put us on her back and carried us to the playoffs," former Sparks point guard Ticha Penicheiro said of Thompson.

Thompson could be part of the focus of Agler's offense until Jackson returns in August from competing in the London Olympic Games. But Agler also signed Wauters, a 6-4 Belgian center, to help forward Camille Little (6-2) in that role. And Kobryn (6-4) should feel more comfortable as a reserve, after appearing in 18 games last year.

Agler also traded for Dunlap, who can play both inside and out. A 6-1 former SEC player of the year, Dunlap had a season-high 19 points and eight rebounds against a Jackson-less Seattle team as a rookie in 2011.

"A lot of this will be determined in how we practice and training camp," Agler said of how the veterans will be used.

Thompson is the WNBA's all-time leader in points scored (6,751) and won four WNBA championships with the defunct Houston Comets.

Thompson and Wauters (2000) will join Jackson (2001) and Bird (2002) to make it four No. 1 overall picks on the roster. No WNBA team has had more than three at the same time, Minnesota collecting Seimone Augustus (2006), Lindsey Harding (2007) and LaToya Thomas (2003) in 2008.

But those glittery picks were obviously at the beginning of their careers, and Seattle's players are closer to their twilight. It's a theme that didn't work when Agler signed veteran stars Yolanda Griffith, Sheryl Swoopes and Shannon Johnson.

None won an WNBA title with Seattle, suffering numerous injuries in one-year stints. So grumbling began as some saw Thompson as the latest misstep.

"Young players give you hope, they give you energy, they give you a lot of things," Agler said. "But traditionally the teams that get in the playoffs and have a chance to do well are ones that have some seasoned veterans on their roster."

The Storm has nine players under contract and possession of the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft. That leaves possibly one slot open in the eventual 11-player lineup. Jackson, a three-time MVP, doesn't have to count until her arrival, but her guaranteed salary ($105,500) does factor into the maximum $878,000 salary cap.

Seattle can have 18 players on the roster when training camp opens April 28. The yet-to-be named additions will compete with guard Allie Quigley and Kobryn for the final spots on the team.

The Storm opens its season against Los Angeles at KeyArena on May 18.

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