SEATTLE - A group of Seattle women, led by former Deputy Mayor Anne Levinson, is buying the WNBA Seattle Storm from the SuperSonics for $10 million.

"How big is the smile on my face," said a beaming Karen Bryant, the Storm's chief operating officer.

"It is an absolutely sunny, brilliant day for Seattle Storm fans," said WNBA President Donna Orender on a cloudy, rainy Seattle morning.

Two Microsoft Corp. executives and an entrepreneur round out the purchase group named Tuesday.

The group, calling itself Force 10 Hoops, has until the end of February to close the sale and would need approval of the WNBA board of governors for the standalone franchise.

"This is something we wanted to be able to do for the Storm fans and for the community," said Levinson, who led the negotiations.

The others in Force 10 Hoops are Ginny Gilder, who owns an investment business, is president of a family philanthropy and won a silver medal at the L.A. Olympics; Lisa Brummel, senior vice president of human resources at Microsoft and a Yale softball player; and Dawn Trudeau, who heads Microsoft's database division.

"I think it's wonderful.  I have two daughters that played sports all through grade school and high school.  Yeah, more power to them," says Storm fan Barb Donaldson.

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson, left, is under contract for next season. Sue Bird is a free agent, but has expressed interest in returning to the Storm if the team stayed in Seattle.

The team also announced it expects to name a new head coach on Wednesday. In late November, Anne Donovan abruptly resigned as head coach and director of player personnel.

Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett has owned both teams since July 2006. Bennett's group has filed with the NBA to relocate the Sonics to Bennett's hometown of Oklahoma City.

When Bennett took over ownership, he said he had no intention of splitting the franchises. But last September, he said he might be willing to split the two teams or keep the Storm in Seattle, even if the Sonics were to move. At that time he said the Storm would play the 2008 season in Seattle, but made no commitments beyond that.

The Storm would join a handful of WNBA teams that are independently owned, including Chicago, Connecticut, Los Angeles and Washington, among others.

The news has storm fans re-energized, with some, like Kenta Hadley, going out to buy season tickets.

"I'm pleased that now my coworker is going to be in a much better mood, because he's been grumpy for about a year," said Hadley.

The Seattle team has been successful in its eight years in existence, highlighted by its 2004 WNBA title, the first professional sports title in the city since the 1979 SuperSonics won the NBA championship.

The team has averaged more than 7,000 fans per game each season and reached the playoffs the last three years. Each of those seasons ended with first-round playoff losses.

Seattle has only four players under contract for the 2008 season, including league MVP Lauren Jackson. All-Star Sue Bird is a free agent, but has continually expressed her intention to return to Seattle if the team were to stay.

Force 10 is a reference to the Beaufort Wind Scale, developed in 1805 by Sir Francis Beaufort.  Force 10 is the point on the scale where wind is classified as a storm.

Statement from Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels

"This is a bright day for Storm fans! The tradition of women's basketball in Seattle will continue," Nickels said. "The Seattle Storm exemplifies the best in professional sports - talent, passion, commitment and excitement. The players are great role models not only for young women, but for all athletes and fans. I'm particularly pleased that committed local ownership has stepped forward to keep the team playing in KeyArena. This is a good model for the Sonics as well."

Statement from Gov. Christine Gregoire

"As Governor and as a Storm fan, I think today's news that the team will stay in Seattle is simply terrific. The ownership group of accomplished women has made this possible because of their strong commitment to the community. They also know first-hand that being able to compete in the top echelon of sports provides women with opportunities generations who came before us never had.

"Like other countless basketball fans, I love the Sonics and the Storm and would like both teams to remain in the area. I am very pleased that the Storm will remain in the state of Washington."