Without question, Sue Bird is one of the greatest players in WNBA history. The Seattle Storm drafted her number one overall in 2002 after an illustrious NCAAW career with the UConn Huskies. After 21 seasons with the franchise, she called it a career following the 2022 WNBA season. Now, the legend is coming home to the only franchise she suited up for.
The Storm announced that Bird is part of the team’s ownership group, Force 10 Hoops. Her stake and cost were not made known to the public. Bird commented on why it was important to make this move:
“As a player, I poured my heart into every game for the Seattle Storm, and now, as part of the ownership group, I am thrilled to continue contributing to the growth of the game. Investing in women’s sports isn’t just about passion; it’s smart business. It’s about recognizing the immense talent, dedication, and market potential our league has always had. “
Bird via the Storm on her ownership stake
Overall, the Seattle Storm has seen great success in its time in the league. Along with the aforementioned winning WNBA Titles, they have made 18 playoff appearances in 24 seasons. The ownership group opened the Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance earlier this month. It is a new $64 million practice facility showcasing the Storm’s pioneering vision for the future of women’s basketball.
It is important to note her impact on both the Storm and in basketball. Below are some highlights from her legendary career on the hardwood.
Highlights from Sue Bird’s Career
I became an instant Storm fan because of Bird. My favorite player on my new favorite team, nothing could be better in my eyes. While I could pen a novel about everything Bird has done, I’ll just list two of my favorite moments from her career.
Sue Bird Wins Her First WNBA Title
Credit: WNBA
In this case, she and the Storm won their first WNBA Championship in 2004. Bird finished third on that team in points per game behind Lauren Jackson and Betty Lennox in the postseason. However, she led the playoffs that year with 42 dimes and led Seattle in steals with 12. This championship was followed up by three more in 2010, 2018, and 2020. Equally important, she led the playoffs in assists in those seasons as well.
Gold Medal Number Five in Tokyo
Credit: Deccan Herald
Without a doubt, Bird proved her talent on a global stage time and time again. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the USA Women defeated Japan to win gold by a score of 90-75. With this in mind, she led Team USA in assists with 35, making history in the process. Only fellow UConn star Diana Taurasi has five Olympic gold medals on their resume.
Bird Soars Into The Sunset
Source: New York Times
In September 2022, fans witnessed the final time seeing Bird on a WNBA court as the Storm lost to the Las Vegas Aces in the playoffs. Her final box score of eight points, eight assists, and a steal in the game is something fans won’t remember. No matter which team you support, it was the reality that we wouldn’t see Bird in a No. 10 jersey again.
Bird talked about the growth of women’s sports on her “A Touch More” podcast with longtime partner Megan Rapinoe. Expect her impact as part of the ownership group to be just as great, if not greater, as it was on the court.
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