Sketchy Everett Vol. 33: Seattle Storm at Angel of the Winds Arena
Illustration by Elizabeth Person and words by Nick Shekeryk.
On its leathery surface, basketball is a simple game—put the ball in the hoop more often than your opponent and you win.
Sketchy Everett in-progress // Elizabeth Person
However, if you dunk yourself into hardwood academia, you'll see that it's actually a contest of math, science and art—all in perpetual motion. The geometrically sharp and soft contours of the 94’ x 50’ court. The calculated experimentation of finding the perfect arc on a shot. The poetry with which players glide across the floor—orchestrating plays and rolling off picks into thread and needle passes en-route to the basket. It's a perfect 'Storm' of elements that accentuate the physical, yet graceful play of the reigning WNBA world champion Seattle Storm.
The on-court battle between the Storm and the visiting Los Angeles Sparks is what drew all 6,114 enthusiastic fans to Angel of the Winds Arena last Friday night, but the narratives beyond the arc—head coach Dan Hughes’ triumphant return to the helm after beating cancer, and the team’s steady ascension through league rankings despite monumental injuries—were perhaps the driving forces behind the team’s handed victory in what was their last home game in Everett (at least for now).
Our respective first and second Storm experiences at Angel of the Winds Arena were exciting to say the least. I think we speak for most—if not all—of Everett when we say the team is welcome back anytime!
The Storm will play the remainder of this season’s home games at the University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena while the Key Arena remains under construction. However, the team will return to Angel of the Winds Arena for a two-game set on Friday August 2nd and Thursday August 8th. Visit the team’s website to purchase tickets.
Click image to enlarge.
Elizabeth is an award winning Everett, Washington-based artist and graphic designer. Using pen and watercolor, she sketches from life and creates 'illustrative infographics,' often featuring Northwest themes.
