SEATTLE (AP) — Alisha Valavanis walked around as the new performance center for the Seattle Storm was unveiled on Thursday filled mostly with joy and a little sadness.
The joy for the CEO of the Storm — who has been with the team for nearly a decade — came from helping bring to completion the second standalone practice facility dedicated to a WNBA team following the Las Vegas Aces last year.
The twinge of sadness for Valavanis was personal. Valavanis’ father, Spero, was an architect that created some of the initial design ideas for the facility. Eventually, a team of architects created the final building, but Valavanis said there were legal pads and napkins that had drawings and ideas from her dad which led to the finished product.
Her father never saw what the final building looked like with the two practice courts, an area for high performance training, therapy pools, a massive locker room and player lounge. He died earlier this year.
Brazil's president creates two new Indigenous territories, bringing total in his term to 10
Feature: Beijing 2022 Mascot Bing Dwen Dwen Going Viral in China
China Launches Campaign Against Women, Child Trafficking
Kids Enjoy 'Winter Games' for New Semester
Princess Amalia of The Netherlands, 20, who fled to Spain for a year after kidnap threats
Tibet Helps over 690,000 Farmers, Herders Find Jobs in 2021
China Records 130 Mln Passenger Trips in Spring Festival Holiday
National Ear Care Day Marked Across China
Tennessee lawmakers approve $52.8B spending plan as hopes of school voucher agreement flounder
Beijing Ready for 2022 Winter Olympics
Harbaugh likes Chargers being in the fifth overall position going into the NFL draft
China's Judicial Authorities Strengthen Protection of Women, Children