Seattle-based basketball team, Seattle Storm, secures financial agreement with BECU for their upcoming athletic facility, now referred to as the BECU Performance Center.
Title Partnership Expands, Marking Milestone in Women's Sports
After a decade of collaborating, Seattle Storm and BECU, Washington's largest credit union, are taking their partnership to the next level. BECU will now be the title partner for the Storm's new training facility and performance center, named the "BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance". This groundbreaking move marks a first in women's sports, making the Storm the first WNBA team to secure a naming partner for a dedicated performance center.
Alisha Valavanis, Storm's President and CEO, expresses her excitement, "We've got two brands deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest, two hometown teams doing something special together. That's exciting!" The partnership, she says, is all about what they can accomplish in the community.
Push for Excellence in Women's Sports
Opened in April of 2024, the Storm's training facility sets a new standard for women athletes with its best-in-class resources. The BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance, a $64 million, 50,000-square-foot facility, boasts two professional indoor basketball courts, outdoor 3x3 courts, locker rooms, nutrition center, player lounge, strength and conditioning equipment, an aquatics center, and offices for business operations. With BECU's support, the Storm made history by creating the WNBA's first dedicated performance center designed and built from the ground up.
Community Focus
The expanded partnership builds on the shared values of both organizations. BECU's enthusiasm was sparked by the idea of women's sports, but what secured the deal was the Storm's values-driven approach reflective of BECU's own. BECU will be the presenting partner for the Storm's Jr. Storm Community Hoops series, offering free basketball clinics and financial education resources for up to 600 local kids annually. The partnership will also contribute $25,000 to the Storm's Kicks for Equality auction, benefiting non-profits aligned with the franchise's charitable arm, Force4Change.
Beverly Anderson, BECU's President and CEO, emphasizes the importance of community development, "Together, we will both be stronger and serve the community in incredible ways."
Breaking Ground in Women's Professional Sports
This expanded partnership sets a new standard for infrastructure investment in women's professional sports and underlines the growing commercial momentum behind the WNBA. Beyond commercial opportunities, the partnership focuses on having a lasting impact on kids and communities in Seattle, according to Valavanis, "This isn't just about business. It's a return on our mission, our values, and the future we want to see."
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- In the sports business landscape, the WNBA's Seattle Storm and BECU, a leading banking and insurance institution, have established a new milestone by expanding their decade-long partnership to include the naming rights for the Storm's new training facility, known as the BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance.
- This development signifies a significant stride in the finance sector, as the Storm becomes the first WNBA team to secure a title partner for a dedicated performance center, signaling the growing industry interest in women's sports and fintech opportunities.
- The new partnership will not only bolster the Storm's sports biz affairs but also focus on community development, with BECU sponsoring the Jr. Storm Community Hoops series, offering free basketball clinics and financial education resources to Seattle-area children, and contributing to the Kicks for Equality auction that benefits non-profits aligned with the Storm's charitable arm, Force4Change.
- The expanded collaboration not only marks a first in sports business for women's professional sports but also sets a new standard for infrastructure investment, emphasizing the potential for significant and lasting impacts on kids and communities in Seattle, reflecting the shared values of both organizations.
