Photo by Alabastro Photography
Nate Silverman serves as the chief commercial officer for the Seattle Storm. So it might be surprising that he didn’t consider the sports industry as a career path until well into college.
Silverman grew up in the late 1980s on The Plateau in Sammamish and eventually lived in nearby cities, including Issaquah, Redmond, Bellevue, Seattle, and Newcastle. Today, he calls North Bend home.
While he was a self-proclaimed sports-obsessed kid, the impetus for Silverman joining the sports industry officially struck when he transferred to Washington State University, where he was, at the time, a declared psychology major in his junior year.
“During my first semester, I took an Intro to Sports Management class, and I was instantly hooked,” Silverman said. “By the next term, I switched majors to sports management with a minor in marketing, and I never looked back.”
Since then, Silverman has built a diverse career across the industry by working with the New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics — whose return he optimistically supports — and Seattle Sports Commission. At one point, he also ran his own sports-marketing agency, where we eventually worked with Learfield, a leading media and technology company in college athletics.
This year marks his 12th season with the fourtime WNBA championship-winning Seattle Storm. Looking back on his time so far, Silverman feels that while the competitive nature of sports is a foundational part of its identity, the industry does more to bring people together than divide them.
“No matter your background, ethnicity, politics, age, or experiences, when you’re in an arena cheering for the same team, you’re connected,” he said. “… Being part of an organization that creates these moments — where thousands of people come together around shared experience, competition, and team pride while positively impacting the community — is something that I will never take for granted.”
To Relax
My house with my family.
For Breakfast
The Egg & Us in Issaquah, and more recently, North Bend Bar and Grill.
To Grab a Coffee
Semirecently, I got a nice coffee machine, so I either make it at home or grab a cup from our fancy Starbucks machine at Storm HQ.
For Dinner
In Bellevue, we love Carmines, Japonessa Sushi Cocina, Monsoon, Daniel’s Broiler, Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen in Kirkland, and Pho Hien Trang in Renton.
To Be Inspired
Hiking in the Cascades.
For a Sweet Treat
A Napoleon cake from an Eastern European bakery. My go-to spot is Pinoyshki Bakery & Café on Capitol Hill.
Currently Watching
An occasional Seahawks game or WSU football game. I also follow the WNBA and NBA closely. When I had more time prekids, my go-tos were “Game of Thrones,” “The Office,” “Narcos,” “True Detective,” “Planet Earth,” and “Veep,” to name a few. Now you might catch me watching “Paw Patrol.”
Currently Listening to
My favorite podcast is “How I Built This With Guy Raz.” I also enjoy “What Now? with Trevor Noah”; “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard”; and, for you true-crime fans, “Up and Vanished.”
Mantra You Live By
The mantra that’s grounded me for years is simple: PMA — positive mental attitude. It shapes how I lead, collaborate, and navigate challenges.
Something That’s Brought You Joy Recently
My kids. Tayla (5) and Weston (3) bring me joy every single day.
In your 12 seasons with the team, what’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
During the pandemic, our entire industry was forced to rethink everything overnight. Our business is built on bringing people together in large numbers, so social distancing and live sports couldn’t have been more at odds. We had to pivot quickly: how we engaged fans, how we supported partners, how we operated internally, and how we sustained momentum without being in the arena together. What I learned is that adaptability is a true competitive advantage. Success isn’t just about having the right strategy; it’s about being able to shift, communicate, and collaborate under pressure.
Is there anything you wish more people knew about the Seattle Storm?
More people need to know just how electric Storm basketball is.