Seattle Storm Unveil 'Be the Storm' Ad Campaign Ahead Of WNBA Season

SEATTLE, WA —Two days after the Seattle Storm made their debut at Climate Pledge Arena —albeit for an exhibition game —the WNBA team launched its new ad campaign on Monday.

The campaign titled "Be the Storm" features the team's Big Three: Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd, was developed by an all-female creative team from the agency Wunderman Thompson and was shot by world-renowned fashion photographer Jill Greenberg, according to the Storm.

"Wunderman Thompson was a true creative partner. They were able to capture the essence of Storm basketball and some of our most iconic champions," said Alisha Valavanis, Storm president and CEO. "This is an exciting time for our franchise as we return to downtown Seattle and Climate Pledge Arena after three years. We're excited to see this dynamic campaign, hyping up the Storm season, all over the city."

According to Storm, the ad campaign will include both video and print ads and run online and offline.

In the ads, photos and videos of Bird, Stewart and Loyd are interspersed with green and yellow plumes of smoke. In the videos, the words "We are power. We are purpose. We are champions. We are the Storm," cascade across the screen.

All of it is shot by Greenberg, whose work includes shooting cover photos for magazines like Time, Entertainment Weekly and Conde Nast Portfolio, and whose subjects have included: Madonna, Amy Schumer, Bruno Mars and Will Smith.

Greenberg also has done ad pieces for Emmy-winning shows like "Dexter," "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Orange Is the New Black."

"We chose Jill Greenberg because her style and vision matched the talent and soul of the Big Three, creating powerful images worthy of the Storm's heroics both on and off the court," said Brittany Carroll, Wunderman Thompson's creative lead and senior art director.

Guy Seese, the executive creative director for Wunderman Thompson Seattle said it also was meaningful to have an all-female creative team involved in the project.

"It was important for the creative to be led by female voices who could bring out the power, talent and grace of this star-studded WNBA team," Seese said.

The Storm opened the exhibition season with an 81-68 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday. Their final preseason game is at 7 p.m. Thursday in Phoenix against the Mercury.

Seattle opens the regular season on May 6 at Climate Pledge Arena against the Minnesota Lynx. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. for a contest that also is part of the Commissioner's Cup in-season tournament, which the Storm won last season.