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Storm celebrate third championship with parade, rally in Seattle

Photo Credit -- Joshua Huston/NBAE/Getty Images

It began in fitting fashion with a green Seattle Storm flag being raised atop the Emerald City’s signature landmark – the Space Needle.

It later continued through the streets of Seattle where the Storm Crazies lined the city’s streets as their favorite team was celebrated with a parade.

It culminated with a rally at KeyArena where players and executives thanked Storm fans for their support all season.

The Seattle Storm celebrated their third championship in franchise history with a parade and rally in Seattle. It started at the Space Needle at approximately 1 p.m. Pacific Time, then went through Seattle Center en route to KeyArena.

Fittingly enough, it rained during a portion of the processions. But Seattle is a city known for rain, so a bit of precipitation is another day for Seattleites.

The rally at KeyArena will be one of the final events to take place at the building as it currently is, as it is set to undergo a $700 million makeover later this year.

Highlights were abound at the proceedings. A few of them came from Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan, who announced that Sue Bird would have a statue constructed in her honor after she retires.

In addition, a street outside of the incumbent KeyArena would be renamed “Seattle Storm Way.”

Fans that made their way to KeyArena for the championship rally were also treated to a video montage of highlights from the Storm’s season. One aspect that was constantly brought up – the season opener at the Key when the Storm lost to the Phoenix Mercury by a final of 87-82 on May 20.

Ironically, it was the same Mercury that stood in between the Storm and an opportunity for a third championship. Seattle lost Games 3 and 4 to Phoenix with a series-deciding Game 5 looming at KeyArena.

That was the game where Bird willed her team in the fourth quarter with 14 points as the Storm punched their ticket to the WNBA Finals.

Speaking of the 37-year old W veteran who, one would believe, has earned her rightful place on the Mount Rushmore of Seattle sports, one question that came up shortly after winning her third title was if she would hang her jersey up and depart from the WNBA a champion.

Bird answered that question very directly, letting everyone know she is not finished yet.

And in those Finals, Breanna Stewart added Finals MVP credentials to an ever-growing resume that already included regular season MVP honors this season. Natasha Howard won a championship for her second consecutive season after being part of the Lynx’s 2017 title.

We saw why Alysha Clark, while one of the team’s unsung heroes, is one of the W’s premier defenders. Dan Hughes came out of retirement and delivered a title to western Washington in his first season as coach. And the Storm have now won more championships than any professional team in Seattle’s history.

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