Tricia McLean, the CFO of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, passed away unexpectedly following a medical emergency on Monday. She was 61. In a team press release, the cause or manner of death was not disclosed.
According to the release, McLean was the longest-tenured employee of the WNBA franchise, having recently completed her 16th season with the Storm. She held numerous titles throughout her career, including human resources, information technology, legal, and facilities management.
McLean was noted as having guided the franchise through its most successful financial years, including relocation and the 2020 season which COVID impacted. Notably, she served the team during three of its four WNBA championships in 2010, 2018, and 2020.
Ginny Gilder, one of three co-owners of the Storm, said in the statement:
“We are shocked by her unexpected passing, and profoundly aware of how important Tricia was to our Storm organization and the city’s sports community. She served as a member of our leadership team, but additionally Tricia was a dear partner and friend.
Tricia was an incredibly well-respected and highly regarded executive in professional sports. She joined our organization barely a month after Force 10 Hoops bought the team and was our longest-tenured employee. In her sixteen years with our franchise, she was involved in nearly every strategic decision made.”
McLean is survived by her husband Chuck and their three children, Chelsea, Charlie, and Julianne.