Sue Bird Says Goodbye to a Legendary Career

Following the Seattle Storm’s 97-92 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game Four of the WNBA Semifinals, Sue Bird’s eyes welled with tears as the home Seattle crowd chanted “Thank you, Sue” while she said goodbye to the game and team she’s loved for 19 seasons.

Bird’s legendary career began during her college days at UConn. She won two National Championships during her time as a Huskie and took home the 2002 AP Player of the Year award. Following her collegiate success, Bird was drafted by the Storm with the first overall pick in the 2002 draft. She immediately proved her worth by averaging 14.4 points and six assists per game while being named to the All-WNBA First Team in her rookie campaign.

Then, in 2004, Bird captured her first WNBA title alongside Lauren Jackson and Betty Lennox. She followed this up with another title in 2010 while hitting a game-winning shot in both the Conference Finals and WNBA Finals. In 2018 and 2020, she earned her third and fourth WNBA championships alongside Breanna Stewart.

Throughout her four-championship career, Bird produced a myriad of accolades such as 13 WNBA All-Star appearances, five All-WNBA First Teams, three All-WNBA Second Teams, three WNBA season assist titles, two WNBA peak performers, and the WNBA’s 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th Anniversary teams.

Her career was not just confined to the WNBA, though. Bird also won five Russian National League Championships, five Euroleague Championships, and two Europe SuperCups. She was also named to each United States Olympic team from 2004-20, bringing home gold in all five years. These accomplishments even landed her the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award in 2021.

However, now, this storied career has seen its last chapter. The Storm put together a successful regular season, grabbing the fourth seed for the playoffs and moving on to the WNBA Semifinals.

Although Game Four proved to be Bird’s final time on the court, she was still able to play 36 minutes and produce eight points and eight assists at age 41 in front of her home crowd.

Before entering the locker room, Bird circled back following the game to say a final thank you to the crowd. Emotions filled the arena as a legendary career came to a close, but Bird said she was filled with happiness.

“I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished here,” Bird said following the game. “Of course I’m sad, but there’s happiness too, to be able to have a moment like that with the fans, to have them chant the way they did. I know the tears don’t look like happy tears, but there’s a lot of happiness.”

Bird may be done playing the game, but the impact she leaves on women’s basketball is everlasting. She has brought attention to the sport and helped it grow into what it is today. She’s been the face of the Storm and a face of the WNBA for her almost two-decade career. Her personal and team accolades are scratched throughout the WNBA record book.

However, perhaps most importantly, Bird has inspired millions of little girls and boys to follow their dreams.