Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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November 17, 2008 3:35 PM

Storm keeps assistant coach Shelley Patterson

Posted by Jayda Evans

Offseason news for the Storm has began. In addition to the league releasing news that it'll push back its start date to June and end in September (to ease conflicts with overseas play and graduations), the Storm has started to fill the holes on its roster with the announcement that assistant coach Shelley Patterson was resigned.

Patterson originally joined the team under former coach Anne Donovan in 2007. She's known of coach Brian Agler from their days in the defunct American Basketball League, her as an assistant coach, and when they were both on the Phoenix Mercury staff in 2004.

During the season, they can often be spotted walking Queen Anne's hills -- Patterson trying to get exercise while Agler makes deals on the phone. But Agler also enjoys talking the game with Patterson and his other assistant Nancy Darsch, a reason he chose to retain the former. Here's the release from the team:

STORM RE-SIGNS SHELLEY PATTERSON AS ASSISTANT COACH

SEATTLE, Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 --The Seattle Storm today re-signed Shelley Patterson, a 19-year coaching veteran at the professional and collegiate levels, as assistant coach for the Storm, Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Brian Agler announced. The 2009 season marks Patterson's third with the Storm organization.

"Shelley brings a great deal of experience to the Storm and we're elated to have her committed to our team once again," Agler said. "Our players truly enjoy working with Shelley, and she is a very well-recognized coach in the women's game. We are pleased to have her wealth of knowledge in Seattle."

A native of San Jose, Calif., Patterson's WNBA coaching career began in 1999 in Houston, where she served as an operations assistant and won a WNBA Championship with the Comets. She then spent four years working as an assistant coach with the Indiana Fever, after joining the team in 2000 for their inaugural campaign. She also served on the coaching staff for the Phoenix Mercury, the Charlotte Sting and the Los Angeles Sparks before joining the Storm in 2007.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work once again with the Seattle Storm," Patterson said. "The team had an outstanding 2008 campaign and it is an honor to continue working with this wonderful group of women and coaching staff. I am proud to be a part of this great organization, and look forward to working hard on our goal to bring a WNBA championship back to Seattle."

In addition to her work in the WNBA, Patterson served as head coach for the National Women's Basketball League's (NWBL) Chicago Blaze in 2005 and worked as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Rage of the ABL during the 1998-99 season.

She began her collegiate coaching career in 1989 as a recruiting coordinator at Indiana State University and has served stints at Ohio University, the University of Arizona, Wake Forest and Dayton. As a player, Patterson spent her college career at Washington State University where she still ranks among the schoo'’s all-time leaders in assist and steals.

For additional information about 2009 Storm season tickets, call 206-217-WNBA or log on to storm.wnba.com.

About the Seattle Storm

The Seattle Storm, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009, is one of seven independently owned teams in the WNBA, the world's preeminent women's professional basketball league. Established in 2000, the Storm is committed to bringing outstanding professional basketball to a diverse and rapidly growing fan base. The team also plays an active role in promoting literacy, health and fitness, support for women and girls and youth basketball in local communities. More information is available at www.storm.wnba.com.

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