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Storm coach Hughes has cancer surgery

Seattle Storm head coach Dan Hughes in action against the Washington Mystics in Game 2 of the WNBA basketball finals Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Seattle. Photo: Associated Press/Elaine Thompson

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Storm coach Dan Hughes had surgery Tuesday to remove a cancerous tumor in his digestive tract.

Hughes will miss Seattle’s two preseason games. The team provided no timetable for his return. Assistant coach Gary Kloppenburg will take over head coaching duties in Hughes’ absence.

Hughes revealed the cancer diagnosis on April 19. The tumor was discovered after he underwent an emergency appendectomy.

The 64-year-old led Seattle to the WNBA title last season. Seattle went 26-8 in the regular season, led by league MVP Breanna Stewart, and after beating Phoenix in five games in the conference finals, defeated Washington in a three-game sweep to claim its third league title. It was Hughes’ first title after 16 seasons as a head coach in the WNBA.

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