The Sonics Could Return to Seattle, and This City Is Literally Built for It
Here's the thing: the NBA is reportedly voting later this month on expanding into Seattle and Las Vegas. That means we could actually be getting the SuperSonics back. And honestly? Seattle is probably the most LGBTQ-friendly city in the world to bring an NBA team back to. That matters more than you might think.
Rick Welts Started His Basketball Career Right Here
Rick Welts is one of the most powerful LGBTQ figures in all of sports. He's the openly gay CEO of the Dallas Mavericks now, but his whole career in basketball kicked off in Seattle. Born here in 1953, Welts worked with the SuperSonics from 1969 to 1979 as a teenager. He didn't come out publicly until 2011, but it's wild that his entry into the NBA happened in one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities on the planet. That's the kind of legacy that matters.
The Storm Kept Basketball Alive While We Waited
Seattle never really lost its basketball heart after the Sonics left two decades ago, and you can thank the WNBA's Storm for that. The team has won three WNBA titles since the Sonics departed and has been home to three legendary LGBTQ players: Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, and Breanna Stewart. Those green and yellow/gold colors? They've kept the Sonics' memory alive while the Storm carved out their own incredible legacy. The Storm were originally owned by the same group that yanked the Sonics away, but they sold the team in January 2008 before leaving town with the men's team.
Our Other Teams Get It
The Seahawks, Mariners, and Kraken have all shown they're serious about being gay-friendly. The Seahawks sponsored an LGBTQ football league back in 2019. Julio Rodriguez, the Mariners' superstar, wears Pride gear in June to make sure baseball fans in the city feel accepted. The Kraken? They hired the first openly gay head trainer in NHL history in 2024. Bringing the SuperSonics back just makes our sports culture even better.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.