WNBA Legend Sue Bird Retires
Photo: ESPN
SEATTLE, WASH — Tuesday night was bittersweet as we watched Sue Bird’s legendary career come to an end. The WNBA All-Star foreshadowed her retirement back in June, as she revealed it would be her last season. It almost did not seem real, until Tuesday night when finished with 8 points and 8 assists following Seattle Storm’s lost to the unstoppable Las Vegas Aces.
The Aces held off the Storm 97-92 in Game 4 in the best-of-five semifinal series with Chelsea Gray shooting a team-high 31 points paired with 10 assists. It’s safe to say this series was by far one of the most competitive match ups we’ve seen this season. Despite the loss, Bird’s last shot was a beautiful poster that sent the crowd in a roaring cry, realizing it was the final shot of her career.
Post-game Bird wiped tears away, as she took in the crowd one last time, and you can see the emotion in her eyes.
“It's sad,"said a tearful Sue in an interview with ESPN after the game. "Obviously, so thankful for 20 years here. I'm going to miss it so much. I'm not going anywhere. But I'm going to miss it."
Photo: ESPN
Retiring at 41, we can’t help but reminisce on Bird’s career as a Seattle Storm legend. Bird was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft, is the league's all-time assists leader, and a 13-time All-Star. Holding four championship trophies, along with five selections to the All-WNBA first team, and a record 12 All-Star Game appearances.
This well-decorated champion has won at every level, notably a record-tying five Olympic basketball golds with Team USA. And it does not stop there, Bird celebrated four World Cup-winning teams and multiple title-winning teams in Russia's professional league and the Euro League. While attending he University of Connecticut, she won two NCAA championships. According to the WNBA website, she also won a national title at Christ The King High School in New York.
Photo: Sue Bird'‘s Instagram
With this lengthy resume, what’s next for the GOAT? When asked what she plans to do during retirement, Bird revealed, her hope is to find something that fulfills her in that way but she knows it will be hard to replace things that are part of life as a pro athlete.
It’s truly a bittersweet moment for the WNBA organization as they say farewell to Sue Bird. Not only did Bird make a career out of something she loves, but we were lucky to witness a master at her craft.
