Certain names linger on the lips of ardent Seattle fans who still rock Supersonics Green & Gold:

Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Detlef Schrempf and Nate McMillan. Ray Allen and Kevin Durant… Players who evoke wistfulness and nostalgia. 

Other names bring notes of bitterness, and regret for Sonics faithful:

Howard Schultz. The man who sold the team…  And Clay Bennett – the man who bought them and soon moved them to Oklahoma City.

The team pulled up stakes 16 years, five months, and 12 days ago … but who's counting? 

Why are many Seattle-ites still hung up on the team that broke their hearts nearly two decades ago? And what REALLY went wrong to make Seattle lose its NBA franchise?

Most lifelong fans could spin their version of events … but the one we’re asking also happens to be an award-winning journalist and the host of a podcast called “Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team.” 

The show was recently re-released by The Ringer, and it remains relevant for anyone who wants to understand the history of the NBA in Seattle and when and how the Sonics could return.

GUEST:Jordan Ritter Conn - Senior Staff Writer at The Ringer

RELATED LINKS:
Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost Its Team - The Ringer
SuperSonics | The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Certain names linger on the lips of ardent Seattle fans who still rock Supersonics Green &amp; Gold:
Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Detlef Schrempf and Nate McMillan. Ray Allen and Kevin Durant&hellip; Players who evoke wistfulness and nostalgia.&nbsp;
Other names bring notes of bitterness, and regret for Sonics faithful:
Howard Schultz. The man who sold the team&hellip;&nbsp; And Clay Bennett &ndash; the man who bought them and soon moved them to Oklahoma City.
The team pulled up stakes 16 years, five months, and 12 days ago &hellip; but who's counting?&nbsp;
Why are many Seattle-ites still hung up on the team that broke their hearts nearly two decades ago? And what REALLY went wrong to make Seattle lose its NBA franchise?
Most lifelong fans could spin their version of events &hellip; but the one we&rsquo;re asking also happens to be an award-winning journalist and the host of a podcast called&nbsp;&ldquo;Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The show was recently re-released by The Ringer, and it remains relevant for anyone who wants to understand the history of the NBA in Seattle and when and how the Sonics could return.
GUEST: <a href="https://www.theringer.com/creator/jordan-ritter-conn">Jordan Ritter Conn</a> - Senior Staff Writer at The Ringer
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/sonic-boom-how-seattle-lost-its-team">Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost Its Team - The Ringer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sonics/">SuperSonics | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Soundside's Libby Denkmann sits down with the host of SONIC BOOM: How Seattle Lost its Team to talk about LOSING the Sonics, and the possibility of getting them BACK.

A conversation with the host of Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

GUEST: Seattle Times reporter David Kroman

RELATED LINKS: 
Katie Wilson pauses Seattle city employees’ AI tool rollout
Slow downtown recovery testing Seattle’s pragmatic progressives
2026 State of Downtown: Mayor Katie Wilson
Senate Democrats Block D.H.S. Funding Again Over Enforcement Guardrails
NYTimes breaks down the White House’s latest offer
POLITICO: One month later, WH and Democrats no closer to ending the DHS shutdown
Mariners’ Randy Arozarena issues statement after WBC drama with Cal Raleigh
Josh Naylor Explains Canada/USA Exchange With Mariners Teammate Cal Raleigh, Tough Loss vs. USA
GENOOO! Eugenio Suárez rocks a GO-AHEAD DOUBLE in the 9th inning for Team Venezuela

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.
It&rsquo;s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.
GUEST: Seattle Times reporter David Kroman
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mayor-wilson-pauses-city-employees-sanctioned-use-of-ai/">Katie Wilson pauses Seattle city employees&rsquo; AI tool rollout</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/slow-downtown-recovery-testing-seattles-pragmatic-progressives/">Slow downtown recovery testing Seattle&rsquo;s pragmatic progressives</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/0aHeQWTFhZ4?si=9e1MSFXY4xJtBkb-">2026 State of Downtown: Mayor Katie Wilson</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/politics/senate-democrats-dhs-shutdown-ice-immigration.html">Senate Democrats Block D.H.S. Funding Again Over Enforcement Guardrails</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/politics/trump-immigration-dhs-shutdown.html">NYTimes breaks down the White House&rsquo;s latest offer</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/13/democrats-republicans-dhs-shutdown-00827135">POLITICO: One month later, WH and Democrats no closer to ending the DHS shutdown</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-randy-arozarena-issues-statement-after-wbc-drama-with-cal-raleigh/">Mariners&rsquo; Randy Arozarena issues statement after WBC drama with Cal Raleigh</a></li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/2wsDLi7K72M?si=GmpmgPV1jG7FLrmd">Josh Naylor Explains Canada/USA Exchange With Mariners Teammate Cal Raleigh, Tough Loss vs. USA</a></li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/QMAMJ_O0T8g">GENOOO! Eugenio Su&aacute;rez rocks a GO-AHEAD DOUBLE in the 9th inning for Team Venezuela</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Front Page: Mayor Wilson making policy waves, DHS funding is still up in the air, and Venezuela stuns in the World Baseball Classic 

Listen up food lovers (or KUOW lovers….. You can hear this one, too).

KUOW’s Seattle Eats podcast has a new host. The show covers Seattle’s food scene and digs into topics like the cuisine at the Seahawks’ Lumen Field… the mortadella sandwich renaissance ….   and the skyrocketing price tag for coffee. 

The show has also gone beyond Seattle, taking listeners to explore Bellevue’s Chinese food scene. And bar hopping in Tacoma. 

Now, though, there’ll be a slightly new flavor (ba dum tss), because Brandi Fullwood is taking over hosting duties from Tan Vinh. She sat down with Soundside to talk about stepping into the new role.

Guests:
Brandi Fullwood, the host of Seattle Eats. 

Related links:
KUOW - Seattle Eats
KUOW - KUOW announces Brandi Fullwood as new host of "Seattle Eats"
Bar Bayonne
L'Oursin
George Coffee & Pastries
Szechuan Fish 
THE HIDEOUT
Lenox
Pantry & Deli — Greenbank Store

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Listen up food lovers (or KUOW lovers&hellip;.. You can hear this one, too).
KUOW&rsquo;s Seattle Eats podcast has a new host. The show covers Seattle&rsquo;s food scene and digs into topics like the cuisine at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seahawks-stadium-food-is-changing-the-game">Seahawks&rsquo; Lumen Field</a>&hellip; the <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-is-having-a-mortadella-moment">mortadella sandwich</a> renaissance &hellip;. &nbsp; and the skyrocketing<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/wake-up-and-smell-the-12-coffee-1"> price tag for coffee</a>.&nbsp;
The show has also gone beyond Seattle, taking listeners to explore Bellevue&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/see-ya-b-c-bellevue-is-a-chinese-food-lover-s-dream">Chinese food scene</a>. And <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-best-bars-in-tacoma">bar hopping</a> in Tacoma.&nbsp;
Now, though, there&rsquo;ll be a slightly new flavor (ba dum tss), because Brandi Fullwood is taking over hosting duties from Tan Vinh. She sat down with Soundside to talk about stepping into the new role.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Brandi Fullwood, the host of Seattle Eats.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/seattle-eats">KUOW - Seattle Eats</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/kuow-announces-brandi-fullwood-as-new-host-of-seattle-eats">KUOW - KUOW announces Brandi Fullwood as new host of "Seattle Eats"</a></li>
<li><a href="https://barbayonne.com/">Bar Bayonne</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.loursinseattle.com/">L'Oursin</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/georgecoffeeandpastries/">George Coffee &amp; Pastries</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.szechuanfish.com/">Szechuan Fish&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.hideoutseattle.com/">THE HIDEOUT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lenoxwa.com/">Lenox</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.greenbankstore.com/pantry">Pantry &amp; Deli &mdash; Greenbank Store</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

There's a new host on Seattle Eats, a podcast at KUOW that dives into Seattle's food scene. Brandi Fullwood dropped in to Soundside to talk about her relationship to food, her favorite spots to grab a bite and what it's like stepping into the host seat. 

Meet Brandi Fullwood, the new host of Seattle Eats! 

Last month, Kansas passed a law requiring that the gender listed on all driver’s licenses and birth certificates match the person’s sex at birth. 

Similar laws have been adopted by other states.

But Kansas is the first state to have made its law retroactive. Meaning that any person who previously changed their gender marker no longer has a valid license or birth certificate. With no grace period. 1,700 Kansans woke up to find their documents were no longer valid.

Invalidating government-issued I.D. is just one of the ways transgender rights have been rolled back by recent state and federal policy changes. 

And that’s part of what’s prompting trans people to move to states with more legal protections. Including Washington. 

One Seattle nonprofit is working to help trans people living in conservative states to relocate.

Guests:
Adalyn - currently in the process of relocating to Seattle with Traction's help


Michael Woodward - Executive Director of Traction, or “Trans Community Action,” a non-profit based here in Seattle.


Aspen Coyle - Program Manager for Traction’s Project Open Arms, designed to assist trans people moving to Western Washington.

Related Links:
TRACTION website

How to volunteer with Traction
Traction events

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Last month, Kansas passed a law requiring that the gender listed on all driver&rsquo;s licenses and birth certificates match the person&rsquo;s sex at birth.&nbsp;
Similar laws have been adopted by other states.
But Kansas is the first state to have made its law retroactive. Meaning that any person who previously changed their gender marker no longer has a valid license or birth certificate. With no grace period. 1,700 Kansans woke up to find their documents were no longer valid.
Invalidating government-issued I.D. is just one of the ways transgender rights have been rolled back by recent state and federal policy changes.&nbsp;
And that&rsquo;s part of what&rsquo;s prompting trans people to move to states with more legal protections. Including Washington.&nbsp;
One Seattle nonprofit is working to help trans people living in conservative states to relocate.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Adalyn - currently in the process of relocating to Seattle with Traction's help</li>
<li>
Michael Woodward - Executive Director of Traction, or &ldquo;Trans Community Action,&rdquo; a non-profit based here in Seattle.
</li>
<li>
Aspen Coyle - Program Manager for Traction&rsquo;s <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftractionpnw.org%2Fopen-arms&amp;amp;data=05%7C02%7Csleibovitz%40kuow.org%7Cc39f3fb4ca7d4d1caf4808de844bf525%7C3d57c1b8f4ae4639adb13312ae3bc827%7C0%7C0%7C639093658991158966%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;amp;sdata=5qajxgEDhuyawx6%2FdgebHHzNCHr9Vb76k2%2BJDNz1noo%3D&amp;amp;reserved=0">Project Open Arms</a>,&nbsp;designed to assist trans people moving to Western Washington.
</li>
</ul>
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftractinpnw.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Csleibovitz%40kuow.org%7Cc39f3fb4ca7d4d1caf4808de844bf525%7C3d57c1b8f4ae4639adb13312ae3bc827%7C0%7C0%7C639093658991062689%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=HZiETu%2FOFLxR7LuvDfgvSpqjX6QWZpXdZ362xNwgW50%3D&amp;reserved=0">TRACTION</a>&nbsp;website
<ul>
<li><a href="https://tractionpnw.org/volunteer/">How to volunteer with Traction</a></li>
<li><a href="https://tractionpnw.org/trans-pride-365/">Traction events</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Invalidating government-issued I.D. is just one of the ways transgender rights have been rolled back by recent state and federal policy changes.   And that’s part of what’s prompting trans people to move to states with more legal protections. Including Washington. 

A conversation with the host of Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team

In 1 playlist(s)

Soundside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips