Historic WNBA News Emerges on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Following Tuesday’s loss to the Dallas Wings post-WNBA All‑Star break, the Seattle Storm hold a 14-10 record, sitting in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt.
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Off the court, the franchise has continued to grow and innovate.
The Storm, one of the WNBA’s most decorated clubs with four championships (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) and 19 playoff appearances in 25 seasons, recently unveiled the state‑of‑the‑art BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance, a $64 million training complex that cements Seattle’s commitment to advancing women’s professional basketball.
Now, just over one year later, the team has announced that All-Pro NFL linebacker Bobby Wagner will join the Storm’s ownership group, making him the first active NFL player to have equity in a WNBA franchise, per the organization’s official release.
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Wagner, 35, is no stranger to Seattle. A second‑round pick (47th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, he spent his first 10 NFL seasons anchoring one of the league’s most feared defenses.
Over that span, he set three Seahawks single‑season tackle records and is fourth all-time in career tackles with 1,838 stops through the 2024 season.
He’s been voted to 10 Pro Bowls and named to eleven All‑Pro teams across his first thirteen seasons and he earned a Super Bowl XLVIII ring in Seattle’s dominating 43–8 win over the Denver Broncos in 2013.
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NFL linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) runs onto the field in a Washington Commanders uniform.USA TODAY Sports
“It’s an honor to join the Seattle Storm ownership group and support a franchise that has consistently set the standard in women’s professional sports,” Wagner said in the team’s announcement.
“This is about more than basketball; it’s about investing in a legacy of excellence, empowering women, and continuing to elevate the game for future generations.”
Storm co‑owner Lisa Brummel echoed those sentiments, praising Wagner as “a hometown hero who has had immeasurable impact on the Seattle community” and underscoring his commitment to empowering women’s sports.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
