August 30, 2025 — Seattle, WA — The Seattle Storm energized Climate Pledge Arena on “Believe in Women Night,” aiming for a playoff spot and honoring four remarkable Black female leaders through the Force4Change initiative. The Storm defeated the Chicago Sky 79-69.
Fans packed the arena early, eager for autographs and inspired by the night’s powerful message. During halftime, Storm SVP and CMO Trinity Parker presented Darnesha Bowman, Nikki Gane, Deena Pierott, and Paula Sardinas with custom jerseys and donations to a local charity of their choice.
Each honoree is a driving force for equity and empowerment in the Pacific Northwest:
- Darnesha Bowman, founder of Black Coffee Northwest, fosters Black generational wealth and combats racism through community spaces.
- Nikki Gane, CEO of Dignity for Divas, supports women transitioning out of homelessness with dignity and direction.
- Deena Pierott, founder of iUrban Teen, opens doors to STEM careers for underrepresented youth.
- Paula Sardinas, CEO of FMS Global Strategies, champions legislative change for marginalized communities.
The night blended fierce competition with powerful celebration—proof that change starts both on and off the court. The evening’s guests included Anthem Singer, Marissa Garrett, and Honorary Captain Ashley Fosberg.
Game Highlights: The Storm held the lead over the Sky for the entire game. Seattle was riding off the momentum of an essential 4-1 road trip that included Thursday night’s record-breaking win over the Minnesota Lynx. The sellout crowd of 12,500 fans waved white home towels as the Storm gave them the first home win since July 16th.
30 points earned by the Storm were the result of 22 forced turnovers on the Sky. From the free-throw line, they were perfect, going 18-18.
Storm Leader Board: Nneka Ogwumike: 20 points | 7 rebounds, Gabby Williams: 12 points | 8 rebounds | 3 assists, Ezi Magbegor: 13 points | 6 rebounds | 2 blocks, Skylar Diggins: 12 points, and guard Erica Wheeler: 11 points.
Playoff Push: The Storm have improved their record to 22-19, rising from eighth to seventh place in the standings, now a half-game ahead of the Golden State team (19-18) and 2½ games in front of the Los Angeles Sparks (17-20). The victory on Saturday night was crucial, as the Storm’s prospects for securing a playoff position are becoming increasingly tense. They must defeat the Los Angeles Sparks at home on Monday night and depend on the Sparks’ loss in their Sunday matchup against the Washington Mystics.
Next Game: Monday, September 1st -Climate Pledge Arena 7 PM PST vs Los Angeles Sparks
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**Photos by Caroline Anne
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