SEATTLE – Former Chico State women's basketball player and assistant coach Alisha Valavanis is the new president and general manager of the WNBA's Seattle Storm.
 
"Alisha has come up to speed very quickly on our rebuilding plans for the Storm. Her blend of business acumen and basketball expertise will be invaluable as we look to rebuild a new and exciting brand of basketball in Seattle," said team owner Lisa Brummel. She told the Seattle Times: "She really does come with the right kind of makeup to do a great job. That's going to be critical right now. We want somebody who's strong."
 
Valavanis and her twin sister, Alexa, came to Chico State from Oak Park High School in Agoura in 1995. She graduated as the team's all-time leader in 3-pointers with 139. She also represented Chico State at the NCAA Leadership Conference.
 

But her best work on the court came during her four seasons as Lynne Roberts' lead assistant with the Wildcats. Beginning in 2002, Valavanis led the recruiting efforts for a program that qualified for four straight NCAA Championship Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Division II Final Four in 2006. Later that year she joined the women's basketball program at the University of the Pacific as an assistant coach, and in 2008, was elevated to associate head coach under Roberts.

Valavanis also spent time as a WNBA scout and later worked at the University of California as the assistant athletic director of development.
 
"I look forward to working closely with Force 10 Hoops and our coaching staff on shifting direction of this team," said Valavanis. "We are committed to hiring a talented and passionate head coach who will help us return championship-caliber basketball to Seattle. We have an incredible opportunity to lay the foundation with the number one pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft."
 
Valavanis was tabbed as the Storm's chief operating officer last summer. Here's a nice piece done by the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.com/html/jerrybrewer/2023970739_brewer02xml.html
 
The Seattle Storm was founded before the 2000 WNBA season. The team is owned by Force 10 Hoops LLC, which is composed of three Seattle businesswomen.
 
The Storm won WNBA titles in 2004 and 2010. Last season they did not make the postseason for the first time since 2003. Monday, long-time Head Coach and General Manager Brian Agler announced his decision to leave Seattle to take over the L.A. Sparks.
 
Follow Valavanis on twitter at @AlishaValavanis and keep track of what's going on with the Storm at wnba.com/storm/.