Sheridan Blanford makes history as Seattle Storm’s first-ever Chief Social Impact Officer, pledging transformative initiatives for community advocacy and equity.
SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm have long set the tone — whether on the court with a game-changing 3-pointer or off it as an organization willing to push boundaries on social issues.
Now, the franchise has taken that commitment a step further. Sheridan Blanford has been named the Storm’s first-ever Chief Social Impact Officer, a role she said she is humbled and honored to lead.
“I know that to start something new, in addition to really building on the great work that the Seattle Storm has done, to take it to a whole new level and in this particular context of the world and in society,” Blanford said.
Blanford’s path to the role was shaped equally by basketball and leadership. She played through college at St. Olaf in Minnesota before building a career defined by firsts. At the University of Washington, she served as the first Associate Athletic Director for diversity, equity and inclusion, experience she said gave her an intimate understanding of what it means to be truly invested in.
But the roots of her leadership philosophy trace back even further. Her aunt, Rhonda Blanford-Green, was the first Black woman in the country to oversee a high school athletics association, leading the Colorado High School Activities Association for the entirety of Blanford’s upbringing.
“I grew up watching her lead, be bold, be herself, lead with integrity and charisma, be powerful, make the people around her better,” Blanford said. “She’s one of the main reasons why I am me.”
Blanford joins an organization that has championed marginalized communities for decades. She described the Storm’s culture as rare — one where the commitment to social impact flows from ownership down through coaches, players and staff.
“There’s real power in it coming from the top down,” she said. “It’s integrated into how the players approach how they live their lives, how our coaches choose to lead and build culture.”
In her new role, Blanford will work alongside the team’s athletes to design and execute intentional programs and initiatives. Her department will focus on using the franchise’s platform to advocate for equity, create access and directly invest in communities.
“How do we use our platform to advocate, to create access, to directly invest, to put our money where our mouth is and then really focusing on the development of youth, women, girls, and BIPOC and marginalized communities.”
Blanford framed her broader mission in deeply personal terms, one defined by her own experience of being seen, supported and allowed to fail.
“It’s my job in my life to ignite the light in other people by being a light myself.”