She Hoops × Seattle Storm

Eight weeks inside one of the WNBA's most successful franchises. A hands-on professional development experience for an exceptional Australian women's basketball administrator.

Apply Now

8 Weeks

In Seattle

10 Games

WNBA Home Games

1 Jul

Program Begins

1 May

Applications Close

news 01 May 2024

Historic ties with Seattle Storm continue with She Hoops fellowship

Lauren Jackson and Seattle Storm have linked up for a groundbreaking She Hoops initiative

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

The She Hoops x Seattle Storm Fellowship immerses an exceptional Australian women's basketball administrator inside one of the WNBA's leading organisations for eight weeks. The Fellow gains firsthand exposure to in-season operations across commercial, marketing, community and organisational functions — real insight into how a world-class franchise operates day to day.

The program is designed so that learning is actively experienced and then translated back into the Australian women's basketball ecosystem, strengthening leadership, capability and connectivity across the sport.

This kind of immersive, world-class professional development is rarely accessible in Australian women's basketball.

She Hoops exists to change that.

Purpose & Objectives

Built on a shared commitment

She Hoops and the Seattle Storm each bring their own purpose to this partnership — and together, those purposes point in the same direction.

She Hoops Why we created this Fellowship

Engage women and girls in basketball by deliberately creating pathways and professional development opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach within Australian women’s basketball.

Connect exceptional people across the basketball community to world-class networks, knowledge and lived experience from one of the best women’s basketball organisations in the world.

Empower women to lead with ambition, confidence and conviction — equipped with the tools, insights and perspective to drive meaningful change across the sport.

Transfer best practice and fresh thinking from a leading WNBA organisation back into the Australian ecosystem in a way that benefits players, administrators and the community.

Build thought leaders and role models who return home with the credibility, vision and voice to inspire others and help shape the future of women’s basketball in Australia.

Seattle Storm Why the Storm are part of this

Growing the game everywhere — the Storm believe that great organisations have a responsibility to share what they know, and that women’s basketball is stronger when knowledge flows freely across borders.

Creating content that connects women’s basketball with new audiences across Australia and around the world, extending the Storm’s reach and deepening the global profile of the women’s game.

Honouring the deep and enduring connection between the Seattle Storm and Australian basketball — a relationship built over decades that this Fellowship continues to strengthen.

Learning from the outside in — welcoming a fresh external perspective that challenges assumptions, sparks new thinking and enriches how the Storm’s own team approaches its work.

Focus Areas

Four lenses. One complete picture.

The Fellow observes and captures learnings across four themes that together build a complete picture of what makes the Storm exceptional.

Operations

Day-to-day systems, processes and how departments collaborate to deliver a world-class organisation.

Commercial & Marketing

Fan engagement, sponsorship, revenue generation and how the Storm builds its brand.

Culture & Leadership

The environment, standards and leadership behaviours that define the organisation.

Australia Translation

What is genuinely transferable, what could be done differently at home, and what will create the greatest impact locally.

Program Structure

Three phases. Eight weeks. Lasting impact.

The Fellowship is designed as a complete journey — from preparation, to immersion, to translating the experience into practical value back home.

Pre-Departure

Apr – May 2026

She Hoops and the Storm complete all planning and logistics before departure. Three check-in sessions prepare the Fellow — program overview and logistics (WC 12 May), a joint alignment call with all three parties (WC 19 May), and a final prep session (WC 26 May).

In-Program

1 Jul – 31 Jul

Eight weeks embedded within the Storm, rotating across departments weekly. Primary ownership sits with the Storm. The Fellow attends all 10 home games and participates in weekly She Hoops check-ins throughout. Three formal check-ins with She Hoops and the Storm mark the start, midpoint and end of the program.

The week of 13 July is She Hoops Focus Week — a dedicated week to consolidate learnings into insight drafts before returning to Australia.

Post-Program

August 2026

On return, the Fellow completes four deliverables that translate the experience into lasting value:

Written Summary Key insights across all four theme areas

She Hoops Recommendations Practical actions for Australian women’s basketball

Insight Presentation Delivered to She Hoops and key stakeholders

Storytelling Content Session Half-day filming with She Hoops

Terms & Conditions

Eligibility & support

Clear requirements for applicants, alongside the practical support provided through the Fellowship.

Eligibility Requirements

Must be available for the entirety of the Fellowship — approximately 1 July to 31 July 2026.

Must have the right to travel into the US, including a valid passport for the full duration.

Must be eligible for a 90-day ESTA Visa (Fellow's responsibility to obtain, with support from Basketball Australia).

Must have endorsement from a current employer or relevant referee.

What’s Covered

Return flights (domestic and international) covered by Basketball Australia.

Living stipend of AUD $5,000 per month, paid at the start of each 30-day period.

Transport and housing in Seattle arranged by the Seattle Storm.

Travel insurance arranged by Basketball Australia.

ESTA Visa is the Fellow's responsibility — Basketball Australia provides guidance and support through the process.

Seattle Storm x She Hoops Administrative Fellowship PD

7 Photos

Seattle Storm Fellowship

2025

Seattle Storm Fellowship

Courtney Schild (Fellowship awardee) with Opals and Storms players Ezi Magbegor (L) and Sami Whitcomb (R) during her visit in 2024.
Seattle Storm Fellowship

Courtney Schild (Fellowship awardee) at gameday during her visit in 2024.
Seattle Storm Fellowship

Courtney Schild (Fellowship awardee) at Storm's practice facility during her visit in 2024.
Seattle Storm Fellowship

Courtney Schild (Fellowship awardee) in teams locker room during her visit in 2024.
Seattle Storm Fellowship

Courtney Schild (Fellowship awardee) at gameday during her visit in 2024.
Seattle Storm Fellowship
Seattle Storm Fellowship