Dawn Trudeau, co-owner of the Seattle Storm, starts her gameday at 6:30 am with physical therapy exercises alongside her cats, Stewie and Jewell, named after former Storm stars Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd. After checking news headlines and exercising, she dons a Storm mug for coffee and selects a game-appropriate T-shirt from her extensive collection. Trudeau also has a lucky jade necklace she wore every game during the Storm's 2010 championship season.
From near-relocation to WNBA powerhouse
When the Seattle SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008, the Storm nearly followed. A group of local women, Force 10 Hoops, stepped in to buy the team, keeping it in Seattle. Today, the Storm boast four WNBA championships and legends like Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, and Jewell Loyd. Trudeau, a former Microsoft employee, fell in love with basketball after attending a Sonics game featuring 7ft 7in Manute Bol.
Pre-game routine and community involvement
Trudeau lives a 15-minute walk from Climate Pledge Arena. She often meets friends for lunch or early dinner at Uptown China, bonding with the female owner. Arriving at the arena around 6:30 pm, she walks the concourse to gauge fan activity at the team shop and concession stands. She also watches players take early shots, purely for enjoyment. Trudeau serves on boards including the Pacific Science Center, which offers free memberships to families in need.
Hands-off ownership philosophy
Trudeau emphasizes trusting her staff for basketball decisions. “You have to believe in your staff. They know more than you do,” she says. “You can have opinions, but they’re perfectly free to ignore them.” This season, the Storm are rebuilding with young talent like rookie Flau’jae Johnson and 6ft 6in center Dominique Malonga. Trudeau notes “less pressure” but excitement for growth.
Game time and post-game connections
At the preseason game against the Portland Fire, Trudeau anticipates a friendly rivalry. She stays away from players and coaches before the game to avoid distraction. Afterward, she visits the locker room to offer praise or check on health. “You’re just trying to make a human connection,” she says. Former star Sue Bird, now part of the ownership group, also attended.
Long-term vision for women’s sports
“Since we bought the team 18 years ago, we’ve wanted to create more opportunities for women,” Trudeau says. “The vision was trying to create better opportunities and a better lifestyle for players to be fully professional.” The Storm’s ownership group remains committed to gender equity and community access.
