Seattle Storm vs. Chicago Sky @ Climate Pledge Arena

Saturday, July 22nd • 6 pm

So far in 2023, the Seattle Storm are feeling Sue Bird’s retirement in a not insignificant way, going from 2nd in 2022 to (at the time of this writing) a 4-10 record as they approach the season’s halfway point. But aside from a couple… let’s call them blowouts… courtesy of the Las Vegas Aces, the Storm losses are close games, and seeing them live in person at Climate Pledge Arena is one of the best (and best-valued) tickets in town for good, old-fashioned entertainment and camaraderie. (Example: The June 11th game against the Washington Mystics, where they crawled back from a 25-point deficit in the first half and kept the Mystics to only eight entire points in the final quarter, was a raucous nail-biter and easily matched a Kraken game in terms of sheer crowd volume.) The point is, there’s still plenty of season left, #24 Jewell Loyd is dominating the game, and the fans are truly lovely people.

And on Saturday, July 22nd, it’ll be more than just a game against the Chicago Sky because that evening includes the Storm’s annual Believe in Women Night. The ceremony, which the Storm has been celebrating since 2006, is built to honor women who have served and made a difference in the Greater Puget Sound community through activism, business, and philanthropy. Previous honorees include author Ijeoma Oluo, chef/restauranteur Makini Howell, Northwest African American Museum Executive Director LaNesha DeBardelaben, Governor Chris Gregoire, and Mary’s Place Executive Director Marty Hartman.

Additionally, they give out the Ginger Ackerley Award, “given to an individual who has made an impact on improving the quality of life in the local area,” and I’ll bet it’s somebody only two or three degrees removed from you.