Sue Bird

Bird was born in Syosset, New York, on Long Island, to Herschel and Nancy Bird.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/bird-sanctuary-mom-dad-enjoy-uconn-guard-s-success-in-a-different-way-1.359630 |title=Bird Sanctuary / Mom, Dad enjoy UConn guard's success in a different way |first=Kelly |last=Whiteside |date=12 March 2000 |website=Newsday}}{{cite web |url=https://www.usab.com/basketball/players/womens/b/bird-sue.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526235021/http://www.usab.com/basketball/players/womens/b/bird-sue.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |title=Sue Bird |website=USA Basketball}} She has one sibling, an older sister named Jen. Her father's ancestry is Russian-Jewish.{{cite web |author=Stephen Andrew |url=https://popculture.com/sports/2019/07/12/megan-rapinoe-girlfriend-wnba-star-sue-bird-everything-to-know/ |title=Everything to Know About WNBA Star Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe's Girlfriend |website=popculture |date=July 12, 2019 |access-date=July 14, 2019}} In the 1900s, Bird's paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from what later became Ukraine. Upon her grandfather's arrival at Ellis Island in New York, their original last name was switched from "Boorda" to "Bird".{{Cite web |last=Karabelnicoff |first=Shaked |date=2 May 2020 |title=Everything you want to know about Olympic flag-bearer Sue Bird's Jewish identity |url=https://jewishunpacked.com/everything-you-want-to-know-about-olympic-flag-bearer-sue-birds-jewish-identity/ }}{{cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/features/bird_russia_4.html |title=Sue Bird: From Russia With Love 4 |publisher=WNBA.com |date=February 24, 2005 |access-date=February 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814222757/http://www.wnba.com/features/bird_russia_4.html |archive-date=August 14, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/features/wurst_070328.html |title=The Chosen One |work=NBA.com |date=March 28, 2007 |access-date=April 4, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/sports/women-s-basketball-no-1-wnba-draft-pick-sue-bird-headed-to-ramle-1.205982 |title=Women's Basketball/ No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Sue Bird headed to Ramle; Several top U.S. basketball players have appeared in Israel's women's league over the years, but Sue Bird tops them all. |publisher=Haaretz |access-date=April 4, 2014}} To avoid European rules, which state that European basketball teams can only have two Americans, Bird obtained Israeli citizenship due to her Jewish father and paternal grandparents.{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Capli |date=2021 |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=rollinginrubles&redirected=true |title=Rolling in Rubles |work=ESPN |access-date=April 4, 2014}} However, she represented the United States, her birth country, in international competitions.{{cite web |url=http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Sue_Bird |title=Sue Bird |work=hoopedia.nba.com |access-date=September 24, 2009}}

Bird was interested in sports from an early age, partly influenced by her athletic older sister.{{cite web |url=http://www.uconnhooplegends.com/womensledgends/BirdSue.html |title=Sue Bird |publisher=UCONN Hoop Legends |access-date=February 12, 2011}} Besides basketball, she played soccer and tennis and ran track.{{cite web |url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Bird/Bird_bio.html |title=Sue Bird Biography |publisher=JockBio |date=October 16, 1980 |access-date=February 12, 2011}} Her fifth-grade yearbook lists her potential future careers as a lawyer, doctor, and professional soccer player.{{Cite book |last=Grundy |first=Pamela |title=Shattering The Glass: The Remarkable History Of Women's Basketball - The Remarkable History of Women's Basketball |publisher=The University of North Carolina Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8078-5829-5 |pages=43–66}}{{Cite web |last=Jewish Museum |first=Washington |date=9 May 2023 |title=People : Museum : Washington State Jewish Historical Society |url=https://www.wsjhs.org/museum/people/sue-bird.html#:~:text=Point%20Guard%2C%20Seattle%20Storm%20and%20Team%20USA&text=Born%20in%20Syosset%2C%20New%20York,an%20Italian%2Dborn%20Russian%20Jew. }} Bird started playing Amateur Athletic Union basketball in the sixth grade. At only 11 years old, she played during halftime of a St. John's basketball game; her play was so impressive that a security guard asked for her autograph.

Bird played her freshman and sophomore years at Syosset High School, but wanted more competition. Consequently, she enrolled at Christ the King Regional High School in Queens, New York.{{Cite web |title=Hoop Dreams: Syosset Native Sue Bird's Hardwood Travels |url=https://syossetjerichotribune.com/2018/11/10/hoop-dreams-syosset-native-sue-birds-hardwood-travels/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=syossetjerichotribune.com}} Bird spent two seasons at Christ the King, where she competed on their Lady Royals basketball team.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Dan |date=2003-07-13 |title=A PAIR OF 'ROYAL' STARS ; BIRD & HOLDSCLAW LEARNED TO WIN AT CTK |url=https://nypost.com/2003/07/13/a-pair-of-royal-stars-bird-holdsclaw-learned-to-win-at-ctk/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |language=en-US}} The Royals record was 24–3 in her junior year. In the second season, her team finished undefeated and won the New York state championship, and the national title. Bird won many awards, including the New York State Player of the Year and the New York Daily News Player of the Year. She was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America Game, scoring 11 points.

Bird was recruited by several university teams, including UConn, Stanford, and Vanderbilt. She leaned towards selecting the UConn Huskies, but hesitated when two point guards announced their commitments to the team. After one of the point guards withdrew her commitment, Bird decided to accept UConn's offer.Goldberg p 10–11 In addition, she favored UConn because it was close to her home and had increased playing opportunities. Eight games into her freshman season, Bird suffered a torn ACL. Since she had played more than 20% of the team's games in the 1998–1999 season, she was not able to redshirt. In her sophomore season (1999–2000), she returned to lead the team to a 36–1 record, the Big East Championship, and the 2000 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. In her junior season (2000–2001), the Huskies went 32–3, with the final loss coming against UConn's Big East rival Notre Dame in the Final Four. However, the Huskies went 39–0 in her senior season (2001–2002), and, subsequently, Bird won the Wade Trophy, Honda Sports Award and Naismith Award as College Player of the Year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usab.com:443/basketball/players/womens/b/bird-sue.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526235021/http://www.usab.com/basketball/players/womens/b/bird-sue.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |title=Sue Bird |website=www.usab.com |language=en-US |access-date=2020-03-30}}

During her junior year, Bird played in a game against Notre Dame which sportswriter Jeff Goldberg referred to as "the best women's basketball game ever played".{{Cite web |last=Best |first=Kenneth |date=2011-02-18 |title=Bird at the Buzzer |url=https://today.uconn.edu/2011/02/bird-at-the-buzzer/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=UConn Today |language=en-US}} Goldberg memorialized the game in his book Bird at the Buzzer, describing how Bird took the eponymous shot at the buzzer to win the game.

She finished her UConn career on many of the record lists. {{as of|2005}} she ranked No. 24 on the 1,000-point list with 1,378 points, No. 2 in assists with 585, and seventh with 243 steals. She ranked number 1 in three-point field goal percentage (45.9) and free throw percentage (89.2). She won two National Championships, three Big East Championships, and Big East regular season titles. Bird was the first winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award in 2000, given to the top point guard in the nation, and won it again in 2001 and 2002. Her record at UConn in games she played is 114–4. Bird was a member of the inaugural class (2006) of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.{{cite web |url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/103008aaa.html |title=Women's Basketball 1995 National Championship Team to be Recognized as "Huskies of Honor" |website=Uconnhuskies.com |access-date=July 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807164447/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/103008aaa.html |archive-date=August 7, 2009 |url-status=dead}}

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=NCAA statistics{{Cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerplayer |title=NCAA Statistics |website=web1.ncaa.org |access-date=2016-04-15}}{{cite web |title=Sue Bird College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/sue-bird-1.html |access-date=June 15, 2024}}}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | 1998–99

| style="text-align:center;"| Connecticut

| 8 || style="background:#d0d0d0| || style="background:#d0d0d0| || .390 || .316 || .750 || 2.0 || 3.1 || 1.5 || 0.1 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || 5.1

|-

| style="background:#ffcc00; text-align:center;"| 1999–00*

| style="text-align:center;"| Connecticut

| 37 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || .502 || .497 || .898 || 2.5 || 4.3 || 1.9 || 0.0 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || 10.9

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2000–01

| style="text-align:center;"| Connecticut

| 34 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || .443 || .432 || .778 || 2.6 || 5.0 || 1.9 || 0.1 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || 10.9

|-

| style="background:#ffcc00; text-align:center;"| 2001–02*

| style="text-align:center;"| Connecticut

| 39 || style="background:#d0d0d0| ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || .505 || .466 || .942 || 3.4 ||5.9 || 2.5 || 0.2 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || 14.4

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career

| 118 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || .481 || .459 || .892 || 2.8 || 5.0 || 2.0 || 0.1 ||style="background:#d0d0d0| || 11.7

{{s-end}}

File:WNBA Sue Bird cropped.jpg against the LA Sparks]]

The Seattle Storm selected Bird with the first overall pick of the 2002 WNBA draft. She would play alongside superstar Lauren Jackson who was also drafted first overall the year before. In her rookie season, Bird started all 32 games for the Storm and averaged 14.4 ppg. She was selected as a starter on the 2002 WNBA Western Conference All-Star team. Bird was the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award and one of only two rookies to make the All-WNBA First Team. Both Bird and Jackson led the Storm to their first playoff appearance. During her first year in the league, Bird scored a career-high 33 points in a regular-season game against the Portland Fire.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Storm vs. Portland Fire - Aug 9, 2002 - Game recap |url=https://www.proballers.com/basketball/game/453683/seattle-storm-portland-fire-2002-08-09 |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Proballers |language=en}} From 2002 (rookie season) to 2022 (retirement), she made a record 13 appearances playing in the Western Conference All-Star team.

In 2004, the Storm acquired shooting guard Betty Lennox in a dispersal draft, joining Bird and Lauren Jackson to form a dominant trio of star players that helped lead the Storm to its first WNBA Championship.{{Cite web |last=Hallman |first=Charles |date=2023-06-29 |title=Fan favorite Lennox's pro career began with the Lynx |url=https://spokesman-recorder.com/2023/06/29/fan-favorite-lennoxs-pro-career-began-with-the-lynx/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=WNBA.com: Betty Brings It Home |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/finals2004/lennox_mostvaluable.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.wnba.com}} With the WNBA Championship win, Bird became one of 11 women to receive an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, Fiba World Cup gold, and a WNBA Championship.{{Cite news |last=Gurvis |first=Jacob |date=September 15, 2022 |title=A timeline of Jewish basketball star Sue Bird's legendary career |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-timeline-of-jewish-basketball-star-sue-birds-legendary-career/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=The Times of Israel}}{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Soo |date=2021-08-10 |title=Sue Bird Shares Team USA Dance Video Celebrating Olympic Gold Win |url=https://www.newsweek.com/tokyo-2020-sue-bird-celebrates-olympic-gold-win-basketball-1617811 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} The others are Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Tamika Catchings, Brittney Griner and fellow Huskies Swin Cash, Kara Wolters, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Asjha Jones.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

En route to the Storm's second championship, Bird had one of the most clutch moments in WNBA Playoff history; during the Conference Finals against the championship-defending Phoenix Mercury with the Storm up 1–0 in the series, Bird hit a game-winning three-pointer with two seconds left in Game 2 to put the Storm up 91–88, after erasing a 19-point deficit to advance to the 2010 WNBA Finals.{{cite web |last=Keeley |first=Sean |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2010/9/6/1672099/sue-bird-seattle-storm-wnba-finals-buzzer-recap-score |title=Bird's Game-Winner Sends Seattle Storm Into WNBA Finals |website=SBNation.com |date=September 6, 2010 |access-date=March 3, 2017}} Also in Game 1 of the 2010 WNBA Finals, Bird hit a game-winning jump shot with 2 seconds left to put the Storm up 79–77 and would later sweep the series.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/columns/story?id=5564790&columnist=voepel_mechelle |title=Sue Bird hits another game winner as Seattle Storm win WNBA Finals Game 1 |website=Espn.com |date=September 12, 2010 |access-date=March 3, 2017}} In 2011, she was voted one of the WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time by current players and coaches, the media, and fans on the WNBA website.{{cite web |last=Stanchak |first=Scott |date=July 24, 2011 |title=WNBA Top 15 Players of All Time |url=http://www.wnba.com/allstar/2011/top15_072311.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201163649/https://www.wnba.com/allstar/2011/top15_072311.html |archive-date=2011-12-01 |access-date=April 4, 2014 |publisher=WNBA.com}}{{Cite web |title=WNBA.com: WNBA Honors Top 15 Players in League History During Halftime Ceremony at 2011 WNBA All-Star Game presented by adidas |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/allstar/2011/top15_players_110723.html |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.wnba.com}}

During the 2012 WNBA season, Bird experienced knee problems, yet she managed to play 29 games throughout the regular season and the playoffs. In the off-season, Bird had knee surgery, which would prevent her from playing the entire 2013 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/9310994/sue-bird-seattle-storm-optimistic-knee-surgery |title=Sue Bird of Seattle Storm optimistic after knee surgery |website=Espn.com |date=May 27, 2013 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}

File:Sue Bird at 2 August 2015 game cropped.jpg]]

Bird returned for the 2014 WNBA season.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-16 |title='You know when you know': Storm legend Sue Bird announces she will retire after 2022 season |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/storm-legend-sue-bird-announces-she-will-retire-after-2022-season/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} That year, she played 33 games, averaged 10.6 ppg{{Cite web |title=Sue Bird Career Stats - WNBA |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/player/stats/_/id/91/sue-bird |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=ESPN |language=en}} and 4.0 apg,{{Cite web |title=Sue Bird |url=https://stats.wnba.com/player/100720/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=WNBA Stats |language=en}} and was voted as a WNBA all-star. However, the Storm did not make it to the 2014 playoffs and would also fail to do so the following year.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Storm Playoff History | 2000 - 2023 |url=https://champsorchumps.us/team/wnba/seattle-storm |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=champsorchumps.us |language=en}}

On February 16, 2016, Bird re-signed with the Storm to a multi-year deal in free agency.{{cite web |last=Davenport |first=Colin |url=http://www.swishappeal.com/2016/2/16/11023544/sue-bird-re-signs-seattle-storm |title=Sue Bird re-signs with Seattle Storm |publisher=Swish Appeal |date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}

In the 2016 season, Bird would have a resurgence, putting up her best numbers since coming back from knee surgery. She averaged 12.8 ppg while shooting a career-high in 3-point field goal percentage and led the league in assists with 5.8 apg. For the fifth time in her career and the first time in 12 years, Bird was named to the All-WNBA First Team. Prior to the season, the Storm selected Breanna Stewart first overall in the 2016 WNBA draft, their second number one overall pick in a row after drafting Jewell Loyd the year before. With the addition of Stewart and Loyd quickly developing into a star player, the Storm made it back to the playoffs for the first time in 3 years with a 16–18 record. With the WNBA's new playoff format in effect, the Storm were the number 7 seed in the league and faced the Atlanta Dream in the first round, losing the single elimination game 94–85. Bird was also listed in the WNBA Top 20@20, a list of the league's best 20 players ever in celebration of the WNBA's twentieth anniversary.{{Cite web |title=WNBA Top 20@20 Presented By Verizon Unveiled |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-top-2020-presented-verizon-unveiled/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Official Site of the WNBA |language=en}}

File:Bird-20180912 (cropped).jpg in 2018]]

In April 2017, Bird underwent left knee surgery, which caused her to miss training camp.{{Cite web |url=https://www.swishappeal.com/2017/5/13/15635840/injuries-stewart-bird-seattle-wnba |title=Seattle injuries: Stewart, Bird to miss LA game. |first=René |last=Kennedy |date=May 13, 2017 |website=Swish Appeal}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/seattle-storm-issues-statement-sue-bird/ |title=Seattle Storm Issues Statement on Sue Bird |website=WNBA.com}} However, she returned on May 21, 2017, following her recovery and made her season debut, making her both the oldest active player and starter in the WNBA.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wearebasket.net/wnba-legends-sue-bird/ |title=Sue Bird is Still On Top of Her Game |first=Nienke |last=van Rijn |date=September 5, 2018}}[https://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/barbara-barker/sue-bird-is-gay-not-that-it-matters-to-progressive-wnba-fans-1.13814900 Sue Bird is gay, not that it matters to progressive WNBA, fans] She scored 9 points and 10 assists in an 81–71 victory over the Washington Mystics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wnba.com/game/20170521wassea/ |title=05/21/17: Washington Mystics @ Seattle Storm |website=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA}} On June 11, 2017, Bird scored a season-high 21 points and 10 assists in a 94–86 loss to the New York Liberty.{{Cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/storm-loses-in-new-york-despite-solid-games-by-breanna-stewart-sue-bird/ |title=Storm loses in New York despite solid games by Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird |date=June 11, 2017 |website=The Seattle Times}} She was voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her 10th all-star game appearance (tying Tamika Catchings for most all-star game appearances). Bird had set the All-Star Game record for assists with a performance of 8 points and 11 assists for the Western Conference All-Stars team in a 130–121 victory.{{Cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/sue-bird-sets-wnba-all-star-game-assist-record-in-wests-130-121-win-over-the-east/ |title=Sue Bird sets WNBA All-Star Game assist record in West's 130-121 win over the East at KeyArena |date=July 22, 2017 |website=The Seattle Times}} On September 1, 2017, Bird became the WNBA all-time leader in assists with a career total of 2,600 assists, passing Ticha Penicheiro in a 110–106 overtime loss to the Washington Mystics.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/mystics/mystics-hold-off-storm-in-ot-as-sue-bird-becomes-wnba-assist-leader/2017/09/01/bce382aa-8f37-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html |title=Mystics hold off Storm in OT as Sue Bird becomes WNBA assist leader |first=Gene |last=Wang |date=September 1, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} She finished the game with 19 points and a season-high 13 assists. Bird would finish off the 2017 season, averaging a career-high in assists per game as the Storm finished 14–19 with the 8th seed in the league.{{Cite web |title=2017 Seattle Storm Season Recap |url=https://storm.wnba.com/news/2017-seattle-storm-season-recap/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Seattle Storm |language=en |quote="While just squeaking in at the eighth seed wasn’t what the team had in mind in May...."}} The Storm would lose 79–69 to the Phoenix Mercury in the first-round elimination game.{{Cite web |title=Mercury 79-69 Storm (Sep 6, 2017) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=400981091 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=ESPN |language=en}}

On July 8, 2018, Bird scored a season-high 21 points in a 97–91 victory over the Washington Mystics. During that game, she became the Storm's all-time leading scorer, passing Lauren Jackson's 6,007 points.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2018/07/08/sue-bird-becomes-storms-all-time-scorer-in-win-over-mystics/36718657/ |title=Sue Bird becomes Storm's all-time scorer in win over Mystics |website=USA Today}} On July 19, 2018, Bird was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game, passing Tamika Catchings for most all-star appearances.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/rosters-set-for-team-delle-donne-vs-team-parker-at-verizon-wnba-all-star-2018/ |title=Rosters Set For Team Delle Donne vs. Team Parker at Verizon WNBA All-Star 2018 |website=WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/sue-bird-sets-league-record-with-11th-wnba-all-star-selection/ |title=Sue Bird sets league record with 11th WNBA All-Star selection | The Seattle Times |date=July 17, 2018}} On July 22, 2018, Bird broke yet another record, this time for the most WNBA regular-season games played after she passed Delisha Milton-Jones by playing her 500th game against the Atlanta Dream.{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/24168716/sue-bird-seattle-storm-sets-wnba-record-games-played |title=Sue Bird sets WNBA record for games played |date=July 22, 2018 |website=ESPN.com}} By the end of the season, Bird finished with a career-high in assists, field goal shooting, and a new career-high in three-point shooting percentage as the Storm finished as the number 1 seed in the league with a 26–8 record, receiving a double-bye to the semi-finals and home court advantage throughout the playoffs. In the semi-finals, the Storm defeated the Phoenix Mercury in a hard-fought five-game series. The Storm had a 2–0 lead, lost two in a row, and finished the series with a win in game 5 at home. Bird scored a season-high 22 points in game 5.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Percy |date=2018-09-17 |title=One final look back: How the charmed 2018 Storm season came to be |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/one-final-look-back-how-the-charmed-2018-storm-season-came-to-be/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |date=October 12, 2018 |title=Seattle Storm wins WNBA championship for third time on September 12 |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/20647 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.historylink.org}} With that win, the Storm would advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2010.{{Cite web |title=WNBA Playoffs 2018 - WNBA |url=https://www.wnba.com/playoffs/2018 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=www.wnba.com}} They would sweep the Washington Mystics in the Finals, winning their first championship in 8 years.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-11 |title=WNBA Finals 2018: Seattle Storm sweep Washington Mystics to win third title |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/wnba-finals-2018-seattle-storm-sweep-washington-mystics-third-title/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=CBS Sports |language=en}}

In August 2018, Sue Bird became vice president of the WNBA players union. During her term, Bird was a part of the leadership that navigated the WNBA during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020{{Cite web |last=Cash |first=Meredith |date=October 30, 2020 |title=How the masterminds behind the WNBA's bubble successfully avoided an outbreak in the heart of a COVID-19 hotspot |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/how-the-masterminds-behind-the-wnbas-bubble-successfully-avoided-an-outbreak-in-the-heart-of-a-covid-19-hotspot/articleshow/78954988.cms |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Business Insider India |language=en}} and negotiated with the league on how to play the game safely with other teams. As the MNBA worked on the players' contracts, they were united in prioritizing activism and listed their use of social justice messages during games as a top "nonnegotiable". Consequently, Bird's presidency is credited with the WNBA allowing the players to express social justice messages, for example, on jerseys, basketball courts, and immediate floors.{{Cite web |last=Bowman |first=Emma |date=26 Oct 2020 |title=Basketball Star Sue Bird Says WNBA Players' Activism Is 'Nonnegotiable' |website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/25/927492785/basketball-star-sue-bird-says-wnba-players-activism-is-nonnegotiable }}

In May 2019, Bird needed arthroscopic surgery on her left knee and could not play in either of the Storm's preseason games.{{Cite web |last=BOOTH |first=TIM |title=Storm's Sue Bird needs surgery, will be out indefinitely |url=https://www.njherald.com/story/business/2019/05/21/storm-s-sue-bird-needs/4262031007/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=New Jersey Herald |language=en-US}} She underwent surgery on May 30,{{Cite web |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattle-s-sue-bird-undergoes-surgery-on-left-knee/953717331/ |title=Seattle's Sue Bird undergoes surgery on left knee |agency=Associated Press |website=KIRO |date=May 30, 2019}} missing the remainder of the 2019 season as she recovered.{{Cite web |url=https://www.si.com/wnba/2019/09/03/sue-bird-miss-remainder-season-injury-updates-seattle-storm |title=Sue Bird injury: Seattle Storm star to miss rest of 2019 season - Sports Illustrated |website=www.si.com|date=September 3, 2019 }} Another key player for the Storm, Breanna Stewart, also missed the 2019 season due to injuries. The Storm still secured a playoff berth, winning their Round 1 matchup of the playoffs without Bird and Stewart.{{Cite web |last=Gamgort |first=Kevin |date=December 12, 2019 |title=2019 Season Review: Seattle Storm - WNBA |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/2019-season-review-seattle-storm |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.wnba.com}} The team, however, was eliminated in the second-round elimination game by the Los Angeles Sparks.{{Cite web |last=Klopfer |first=Brady |date=2019-09-15 |title=Sparks eliminate Storm with dominant first-round playoff victory |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-09-15/chelsea-gray-nneka-ogwumike-sparks-storm-wnba-playoffs |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

In 2020, Bird returned to play, limited to playing 11 games in the regular season. Due to the pandemic, the season was delayed and shortened to 22 games, with all activities occurring at the IMG Academy{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Nick |date=2020-06-15 |title=Seattle Storm won't play any games in Everett this year |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/seattle-storm-wont-play-any-games-in-everett-this-year/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}} in the wubble, the contained Academy area.{{Cite web |last=Negley |first=Cassandra |date=2020-10-06 |title=Storm win fourth WNBA championship; Breanna Stewart named Finals MVP after Achilles tear |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba-finals-storm-win-fourth-championship-sue-bird-breanna-stewart-mvp-aces-005642493.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}} She had reaggravated her knee during the season, causing her to miss five games.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Derek |date=2020-08-13 |title=Sue Bird's return shows how important she still is |url=https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/sue-birds-return-shows-how-important/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=The Next |language=en-US}} With an active roster, the Storm finished 18–4 with the number 2 seed, receiving a double bye to the semi-finals.{{Cite web |last=Arthur |first=Ben |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Seattle Storm enter 2020 WNBA Playoffs as the No. 2 seed |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/storm/article/sea-storm-enter-2020-WNBA-playoffs-as-no-2-seed-15566397.php |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=SeattlePi}} In the semi-finals, they would sweep the Minnesota Lynx in three games, advancing back to the WNBA Finals for the second time in three years.{{Cite web |title=Storm 92-71 Lynx (Sep 27, 2020) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401244180 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=ESPN |language=en}} In the Finals, the Storm would win the championship after defeating the Las Vegas Aces in a three-game sweep, earning Bird her fourth WNBA championship, making her the first player in WNBA history to win a championship in three different decades.{{cite news |last1=Maloney |first1=Jack |title=Sue Bird becomes third player in WNBA or NBA history to win titles in three different decades |url=https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/sue-bird-becomes-third-player-in-wnba-or-nba-history-to-win-titles-in-three-different-decades/ |access-date=23 June 2023 |work=CBS Sports}}

In 2021, Bird re-signed with the Storm on a one-year deal, which allowed her to play her 18th season in the league, moving her past Milton-Jones for most seasons played in the WNBA.[https://www.slamonline.com/wnba/sue-bird-to-re-sign-with-seattle-storm/ SUE BIRD TO RE-SIGN WITH SEATTLE STORM][https://www.spotrac.com/wnba/seattle-storm/sue-bird-29952/#:~:text=Sue%20Bird%20signed%20a%201,annual%20average%20salary%20of%20%24215%2C000. Sue Bird EMBED THIS GUARD, STORM] During a game against the Los Angeles Sparks in July 2021, Bird surpassed Katie Smith's 6452 career points on the WNBA career scoring list with her first three-pointer, ending the game with 6490 points.{{Cite web |title=Sue Bird reaches No. 6 on WNBA career scoring, Storm beat Sparks - Sportsnet.ca |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/article/sue-bird-reaches-no-6-wnba-career-scoring-storm-beat-sparks/ |access-date=2021-08-18 |website=www.sportsnet.ca}}{{Cite web |title=WNBA Career Leaders and Records for Points |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/leaders/pts_career.html |access-date=2021-08-18 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} She was honored in The W25 list, the WNBA's official list recognizing "the 25 greatest and most influential players in WNBA history", selected to commemorate the league's 25th season (2021).{{cite press release |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-continues-celebration-of-landmark-25th-season-names-greatest-players-in-league-history-the-w25/ |title=WNBA Continues Celebration Of Landmark 25th Season, Names Greatest Players In League History, "The W25" |publisher=WNBA |date=September 5, 2021 |access-date=October 18, 2021}}

On June 16, 2022, Bird announced that she would be retiring following the 2022 WNBA season.{{Cite web |title=WNBA legend Sue Bird retiring after 2022 season: 'I'm gonna miss it' |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34101512/gonna-miss-it |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=espn.com |date=June 16, 2022 |language=en}}

On July 23, 2023, Bird's number 10 jersey was retired by the Seattle Storm during a ceremony at Climate Pledge Arena and attended by team owners and former teammates Swin Cash and Lauren Jackson.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-12 |title=Storm retire Bird's jersey in emotional ceremony |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/37839132/storm-retire-sue-bird-no-10-jersey-emotional-ceremony |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

In the 2004–05 WNBA off-season, she played in Russia with Storm teammate Kamila Vodichkova on the Dynamo Moscow.{{Cite web |title=STORM: Storm Off-Season Update: Nov. 11 |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/storm/news/offseason041111.html |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=www.wnba.com}} In the 2005–06 WNBA off-season, she played on the same team, reaching the Russian championship and the Euroleague women's playoffs.{{Cite web |title=The W In Designer: Sue Bird's Style Evolution - WNBA |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/the-w-in-designer-sue-birds-style-evolution |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=www.wnba.com}}

In the 2006–07 WNBA off-season, she joined Storm teammate Lauren Jackson and fellow UConn stars Diana Taurasi and Svetlana Abrosimova on the Russian team Sparta&K{{cite web |url=http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=RUSSIA&Team=7635&Year=2006-2007 |title=SPARTAK VIDNOE MOSCOW REGION basketball team |access-date=July 18, 2009}} to win both the Russian Super League and the EuroLeague Women championships. Bird would keep playing with the team for the next four WNBA off-seasons.

From 2011 to 2014, Bird played three off-seasons for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian League, adding three more consecutive championships in the Russian league.

File:Sue Bird - 2012 Olympics (cropped).jpg at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]

Bird has competed with USA Basketball as a member of the 2000 Jones Cup Team in Taipei, Taiwan. She started all four games, leading the team with 17 assists and helping them to the gold medal.{{cite web |url=http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_2000.html |title=2000 WOMEN'S R. WILLIAM JONES CUP |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043634/http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_2000.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

In 2002, Bird was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in Zhangjiagang, Changzhou, and Nanjing, China. The team was coached by Van Chancellor. Bird scored 4.3 points per game. The USA team won all nine games, including a close title game against Russia, which was a one-point game late in the game.

In the 2003–2004 off-season, Bird was named to the United States 2004 Women's Olympic Basketball Team's roster.{{cite web |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=woly_2004 |title=Games of the XXVIIIth Olympiad – 2004 |access-date=July 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120424205819/http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/woly_2004.html |archive-date=April 24, 2012}} The USA team went on to win the gold at the games in Athens, Greece.{{Cite web |title=CNN - U.S. women clinch basketball title - Aug 28, 2004 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/08/28/basketball.saturday/index.html |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=CNN}}

In 2006, Bird was invited back to the National team for the World Championships held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in September 2006. With Lisa Leslie and Dawn Staley retiring and Sheryl Swoopes sidelined by injuries, Bird, Candace Parker, and Diana Taurasi stepped up to leading roles on the national team. The USA team won eight of the nine games they played but fell against Russia 75–68 in the medal round; they ended up with the bronze medal. Over the nine games, Bird hit 50% of her three-point attempts, tying her for accuracy leadership with Taurasi and Swoopes. She also led the team with 41 assists.

In the summer of 2008, Bird once again qualified for the Olympic basketball team, which won the 2008 gold medal in Beijing, China. Bird started all eight games and tied with teammate Tamika Catchings with 14 steals, both ranking seventh in the tournament's top 10 for steals.{{cite web |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=woly_2008 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120424205824/http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/woly_2008.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 24, 2012 |title=Games of the XXVIIIth Olympiad – 2008 |publisher=USA Basketball |access-date=August 2, 2009}}

Bird was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp for the 2010 World Championship in the fall of 2009. Usually, players for the 2010 USA FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics teams are selected from the National Team. Following the training camp, the team was scheduled to play in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational in Ekaterinburg, Russia.{{cite web |title=USA Basketball Women's National Team To Tip-Off Training Tomorrow In D.C. |url=http://usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=09_wnt_fall_invitees_add_rm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716050712/http://usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=09_wnt_fall_invitees_add_rm |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |access-date=October 1, 2009 |publisher=USA Basketball}}{{Cite web |title=2010 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team Announced |url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/news/usab_roster_100921.html |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=WNBA}}

On July 10, 2010, Bird competed with the National team in the WNBA-sponsored All-Star game, which pitted the USA National team against the "best-of-the-best" WNBA All-Stars.{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Graham |date=2010-07-09 |title=Win a good start for Team USA |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=5370158 |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Coward |first=Cheryl |date=2010-01-27 |title=USA Basketball-WNBA to matchup in 2010 All-Star Game on July 10 |url=https://www.hoopfeed.com/content/2010/01/usa-basketball-wnba-to-matchup-in-2010-all-star-game-on-july-10/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Hoopfeed.com |language=en-US}} In non-Olympic seasons, the WNBA normally holds the annual All-Star game between top players in the Eastern and Western Conferences.{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2015 |title=WNBA FAQ - WNBA |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-faq |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=WNBA}} University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma coached the National team in this game, training camp, and through 2012. Team USA won the exhibition game 99–72, with players like Bird, who subsequently qualified for the USA team competing in the FIBA World Championships in the Czech Republic, held in September and October 2010.

Because many team members were still playing in the WNBA until just before the World Cup, the USA World team had only one day of practice with the entire 12-member squad before they opened play in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Even with limited practice, the team won its first game against Greece by 26 points. They continued to dominate with victory margins exceeding 20 points in the first five games. Several players shared scoring honors, with Swin Cash, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Lindsay Whalen, and Sylvia Fowles all ending as high scorers in the first few games. USA's sixth game was against undefeated Australia. They took a 24-point lead and ultimately prevailed with an 83–75 victory. Team USA won its next two games by over 30 points, then faced the host team, the Czech Republic, in the championship game. They had only a five-point lead at halftime, which was cut to three points, but the Czechs never got closer. Team USA went on to win the championship and gold medal. Bird averaged 5.6 points per game and led the team in assists with 26.

Bird competed for the U.S. in the 2012 Summer Olympics. The Americans won their fifth straight gold medal.

In 2014, Bird played for Team USA during the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, in which they defeated Spain 77–64 to win the gold medal.

Bird competed for Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics, helping the team win its sixth straight gold medal. In the gold medal game, they beat Spain 101–72. This was Bird's fourth Olympic title.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-21 |title=U.S. sets gold bar even higher; 'not going anywhere' |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/17356214/olympics-2016-rio-us-women-basketball-set-gold-bar-even-higher-not-going-anywhere |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-20 |title=Sue BIRD |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/sue-bird |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=olympics.com}}

In 2018, Bird once again qualified for Team USA during the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup held in Spain. USA defeated Australia 73–56 to win the gold medal. By winning the gold medal, Bird became the only player in history, male or female, to win four World Cup gold medals. Bird finished the final with five assists, bringing her career total to 107 assists in the FIBA World Cup—making her the leader for the U.S. with the most assists at the World Cup.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usab.com:443/news-events/news/2018/09/wwc-6-aus.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930232256/https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2018/09/wwc-6-aus.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |title=USA Downs Australia to Claim Third-Straight FIBA World Cup Gold |website=www.usab.com}}

On July 23, 2021, in the lead-up to her quest for her fifth gold medal, Bird carried the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Bird and baseball player Eddy Alvarez were selected by fellow athletes to be the flag bearers. Bird described the honor as "mind-blowing".{{Cite news |title=Sue Bird, going for record fifth gold medal, will carry U.S. flag at Opening Ceremonies |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/22/sue-bird-olympics-flag-bearer/ |access-date=2021-07-24 |issn=0190-8286}} The Games were delayed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Kelly |date=2020-03-24 |title=Tokyo Olympics officially postponed until 2021 |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/28946033/tokyo-olympics-officially-postponed-2021 |access-date=2021-07-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

File:Sue Bird 9 25 24.jpg

Bird publicly came out as a lesbian on July 20, 2017, revealing that she had been dating soccer player Megan Rapinoe for several months after the two met at the 2016 Rio Olympics.{{cite web |last1=Voepel |first1=Mechelle |title=WNBA All-Star Sue Bird is ready to let you in |url=http://www.espn.com/espnw/feature/20088416/wnba-all-star-sue-bird-ready-let-in |website=espnW |access-date=July 20, 2017 |date=July 20, 2017}} In 2018, she and Rapinoe became the first same-sex couple on the cover of ESPN The Magazine{{'}}s "Body Issue".{{ cite web | url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-spt-espn-body-sue-bird-megan-rapinoe-20180626-story.html | title = Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are first same-sex couple on cover of ESPN{{'}}s Body Issue | date = June 26, 2018 | publisher = Chicago Tribune | access-date = June 27, 2018 }} They announced their engagement on October 30, 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/story/_/id/30225983/sue-bird-megan-rapinoe-announce-engagement-instagram-pic |title=Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe announce engagement with Instagram pic |first=Mechelle |last=Voepel |date=October 30, 2020 |access-date=October 30, 2020 |website=espnW}}

In 2020, Bird and Rapinoe were the first LGBTQ+ couple to co-host the ESPYs.{{Cite web |last=Reimer |first=Alex |date=26 May 2020 |title=Power couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird will host remote ESPYS this year |url=https://www.outsports.com/2020/5/26/21270643/megan-rapinoe-sue-bird-espy-hosts |website=Outsports}} She was included in the 2022 Queer 50 list.{{Cite web |title=Sue Bird is No. 39 on the 2022 Fast Company Queer 50 list |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/queer-50/list/rank/39 |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=Fast Company |language=en-US}}

In 2022, Bird became a part-owner of National Women's Soccer League franchise NJ/NY Gotham FC as a minority investor in the club. Along with her investment, Bird is required to be an advisor to the league, assisting to promote the club at all market levels—local, national, and international.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-29 |title=Sue Bird joins Gotham FC ownership group |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37630504/sue-bird-eli-manning-join-nj-ny-gotham-fc-ownership-group-reports |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Scott |first=Jelani |date=2022-07-29 |title=Sue Bird Becomes Minority Investor in NWSL's Gotham FC |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/07/29/nj-ny-gotham-fc-sue-bird-minority-investor |access-date=2024-07-30 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}} She also joined the ownership group of the Seattle Storm, Force 10 Hoops, in 2024.{{cite news |last=Pelton |first=Kevin |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Storm legend Sue Bird joins franchise's ownership group |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/40018090/storm-legend-sue-bird-joins-franchise-ownership-group |work=ESPN |access-date=April 24, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Percy |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Sue Bird joining Storm ownership group |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/sue-bird-joining-storm-ownership-group/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=April 24, 2024}} On July 16th, 2024, Mattel announced a Sue Bird Barbie as part of their 65th anniversary of the Barbie doll.{{Cite web |title=WNBA Legend Sue Bird Is Getting Her Own Barbie: 'A Surreal Moment' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/wnba-legend-sue-bird-is-getting-her-own-barbie-exclusive-8678171 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=People.com |language=en}}

{{WNBA player statistics legend}}

As of September 1, 2024

• Only player to win a WNBA championship in three different decades (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020)
• Oldest player in WNBA history to play a whole season: 41 yrs, 246 days{{efn|Nancy Lieberman played 9 minutes in 1 game at age 50 years and 23 days.}}
• Top 10 all-time in:
• 1st in seasons played (20)
• 1st in games played (580)
• 1st in assists (3,234)
• 1st in minutes played (18,080)
• 1st in All-Star selections (13)
• 1st in All-Star appearances (12)
• 2nd in 3-pointers made (1,001)
• 2nd in 3-point attempts (2,551)
• 2nd in turnovers (1,393)
• 3rd in steals (725)
• 6th in field goal attempts (5,778)
• 6th in field goals missed (3,233)
• 7th in field goals made (3,299)
• 8th in points (6,803)

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=WNBA regular season statistics{{cite web |title=Sue Bird WNBA Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/b/birdsu01w.html |website=Basketball Reference}}}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2002

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| style="background:#D3D3D3"|32° || style="background:#D3D3D3"|32° || 35.0 || .403 || .401 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|.911° || 2.6 || 6.0 || 1.7 || 0.1 || 3.4 || 14.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2003

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || 33.4 || .421 || .350 || .884 || 3.3 || 6.5 || 1.4 || 0.0 || 3.2 || 12.4

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2004{{sup|†}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || 33.4 || .463 || .438|| .859 || 3.1 || 5.4 || 1.5 || 0.2 || 2.5 || 12.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 30 || 30 || 34.0 || .442 || .437 || .855 || 2.4 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|5.9° || 1.0 || 0.2 || 2.9 || 12.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || 31.3 || .411 || .366 || .868 || 3.0 || 4.8 || 1.8 || 0.1 || 2.5 || 11.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 29 || 29 || 31.7 || .428 || .338 || .846 || 2.0 || 4.9 || 1.5 || 0.3 || 2.3 || 10.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 33 || 33 || 33.7 || .441 || .343 || .871 || 2.5 || 5.1 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 2.6 || 14.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 31 || 31 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|35.5° || .408 || .360 || .854 || 2.5 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|5.8° || 1.5 || 0.1 || 2.6 || 12.8

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2010^†

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 33 || 33 || 30.5 || .434 || .399 || .857 || 2.7 || 5.8 || 1.5 || 0.2 || 1.8 || 11.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2011

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || 33.0 || .449 || .428 || .875 || 2.9 || 4.9 || 1.4 || 0.2 || 2.3 || 14.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 29 || 29 || 31.0 || .459 || .384 || .783 || 2.9 || 5.3 || 0.9 || 0.1 || 2.2 || 12.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:left;"|2013

| colspan=13 style="text-align:center;"| Did not play (injury)

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 33 || 33 || 29.2 || .386 || .345 || .831 || 2.2 || 4.0 || 0.8 || 0.0 || 2.2 || 10.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 27 || 27 || 28.6 || .384 || .301 || .796 || 2.3 || 5.4 || 0.9 || 0.1 || 2.4 || 10.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || style="background:#D3D3D3"|34° || 31.6 || .449 || .444 || .786 || 2.9 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|5.8° || 1.0 || 0.2 || 2.5 || 12.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 30 || 30|| 30.0 || .427 || .393 || .774 || 2.0 || 6.6 || 1.2 || 0.2 || 2.0 || 10.6

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2018^†

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 31 || 31|| 26.5 || .466 || .448 || .828 || 1.7 || 7.1 || 1.1 || 0.1 || 1.9 || 10.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:left;"|2019

| colspan=13 style="text-align:center;"| Did not play (injury)

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2020^†

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 11 || 11|| 23.4 || .494 || .469 || .750 || 1.7 || 5.2 || 0.6 || 0.2 || 1.6 || 9.8

|-

|style="text-align:left;"| 2021

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 30 || 30|| 27.7 || .431 || .419 || .833 || 2.6 || 5.3 || 0.9 || 0.1 || 1.6 || 10.0

|-

|style="text-align:left;"| 2022

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 31 || 31|| 26.4 || .403 || .389 || 1.000 || 1.9 || 6.0 || 1.2 || 0.1 || 1.9 || 7.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;"| Career

| style="text-align:left;"| 19 years, 1 team

| bgcolor="EOCEF2" |580{{double dagger}} || bgcolor="EOCEF2" |580{{double dagger}} || 31.2 || .429 || .392 || .853 || 2.5 || 5.6 || 1.3 || 0.1 || 2.4 || 11.7

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;"| All-Star

|bgcolor="EOCEF2" |12{{double dagger}}||bgcolor="EOCEF2" |11{{double dagger}}|| 20.6 || .463 || .395 || .714 || 2.9 || 5.8 || 0.7 || 0.2 || 1.6 || 6.8

{{S-end}}

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=WNBA playoff statistics}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2002

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 2 || 2 || 36.5 || .409 || .273 || 1.000 || 0.0 || 6.0 || 2.5 || 0.0 || 2.5 || 14.0

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2004^†

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 8 || 8 || 29.1 || .377 || .300 || .762 || 3.2 || 5.2 || 1.5 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 8.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 3 || 3 || 34.3 || .273 || .133 || .875 || 1.7 || 4.3 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 1.3 || 9.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 3 || 3 || 35.0 || .361 || .333 || .625 || 2.7 || 3.3 || 0.3 || 0.7 || 2.3 || 12.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 2 || 2 || 35.5 || .458 || .583 || 1.000 || 2.0 || 5.0 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 3.0 || 16.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2008

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 3 || 3 || 37.0 || .460 || .294 || 1.000 || 2.3 || 3.0 || 1.3 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 19.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 3 || 3 || 36.3 || .333 || .417 || .875 || 3.7 || 4.0 || 1.3 || 0.0 || 2.3 || 11.3

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2010^†

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 7 || 7 || 37.0 || .386 || .333 || .769 || 4.1 || 7.7 || 1.7 || 0.4 || 2.0 || 12.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2011

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 3 || 3 || 33.7 || .444 || .500 || .857 || 4.0 || 2.7 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.6 || 15.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2012

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 3 || 3 || 35.3 || .439 || .500 || .833 || 1.7 || 7.0 || 1.7 || 0.7 || 3.3 || 16.3

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 1 || 1 || 34.2 || .357 || .333 || .000 || 5.0 || 7.0 || 3.0 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 12.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2017

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 1 || 1 || 31.0 || .444 || .333 || 1.000 || 2.0 || 5.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 10.0

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2018^†

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 8 || 8 || 28.4 || .387 || .364 || .750 || 2.8 || 6.9 || 0.7 || 0.2 || 1.3 || 10.0

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2020^†

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 6 || 6 || 26.5 || .392 || .316 || 1.000 || 2.0 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|9.2° || 0.7 || 0.3 || 2.3 || 9.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 1 || 1 || 37.0 || .417 || .500 || 1.000 || 3.0 || 5.0 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 16.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022

| style="text-align:left;"| Seattle

| 6 || 6 || 35.7 || .431 || .433 || 1.000 || 2.2 ||style="background:#D3D3D3"|7.7° || 0.8 || 0.2 || 1.0 || 10.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| Career

| style="text-align:left;"| 16 years, 1 team

| 60 || 60 || 32.9 || .396 || .365 || .845 || 2.7 || 6.1 || 1.2 || 0.2 || 1.9 || 11.7

{{s-end}}

WNBA

• 4× WNBA champion (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020)
• Commissioner's Cup Champion (2021)
• 12× WNBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
• 5× All-WNBA First Team (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016)
• 3× All-WNBA Second Team (2008, 2010, 2011)
• 3× WNBA assists leader (2005, 2009, 2016)
• 2× WNBA peak performer (2009, 2016)
• All-time record for All-star appearances
• All-time leader seasons played
• All-time assists leader
• All-time leader in games played
• All-time leader in minutes played
• All-time leader turnovers
• WNBA All-Decade Team (2006, Top 10 players from first 10 years)
• WNBA Top 15 Players of All Time (2011, Top 15 players from first 15 years)
• WNBA Top 20@20 (2016, Top 20 players from first 20 years)
• The W25 (2021, Top 25 players from first 25 years)

NCAA

• 2× NCAA National Champion (2000, 2002)
• 3× Nancy Lieberman Award (2000, 2001, 2002)
• Naismith College Player of the Year (2002)
• USBWA Women's National Player of the Year (2002)
• Senior CLASS Award (2002)
• Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year (2002)
• Honda Sports Award, basketball (2002)

USA Basketball

• 5× Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020){{Cite web |title=Sue Bird: Records, stats and other top facts |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/sue-bird-records-stats-and-other-top-facts |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Olympics.com}}
• 4× FIBA World Cup gold medalist (2002, 2010, 2014, 2018)
• 2006 FIBA World Cup bronze medalist

EuroLeague

• 5× EuroLeague Women Champion (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013)
• 2× EuroLeague All-Star (2008,2011)

Media

• Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year (2002)
• 2002 ESPY Award - Best Female College Athlete

Further Honors

• On August 26th, 2024 the city of Seattle renamed a street near Climate Pledge Arena to "Sue Bird Court"{{Cite news |author= |date=2024-08-26 |title=Seattle street named in honor of Sue Bird |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-storm-sue-bird-court-street-name-proclamation-mayor-harrell-climate-pledge-arena |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827043311/https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-storm-sue-bird-court-street-name-proclamation-mayor-harrell-climate-pledge-arena |archive-date=27 August 2024 |access-date=2024-09-10 |publisher=KOMO |language=en |quote=One of the greatest stars in Seattle sports history has now been immortalized on the city's streets. The new "Sue Bird Court" is located on a portion of Second Avenue North between Denny Way and Lenny Wilkens Way, near Climate Pledge Arena. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell made the official proclamation and unveiled the new street sign Monday morning.}}{{Cite news |last=Dayton |first=Kels |date=2024-08-27 |title=UConn legend Sue Bird has street named after her near Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena |url=https://www.courant.com/2024/08/27/uconn-legend-sue-bird-has-street-named-after-her-near-seattles-climate-pledge-arena/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827200506/https://www.courant.com/2024/08/27/uconn-legend-sue-bird-has-street-named-after-her-near-seattles-climate-pledge-arena/ |archive-date=27 August 2024 |access-date=2024-09-10 |publisher=Hartford Courant |language=en-US |quote=Drivers on their way to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle will now pass through Sue Bird Court, after the city officially renamed a street in honor of the former Husky and Seattle Storm legend.}}
• White House visits: Bird is one of the only athletes ever to have been invited to the White House for their championship performance as a collegiate player (University of Connecticut Huskies Women's Basketball), professional player (Seattle Storm), and as part of a championship team's ownership group (Gotham FC).Bird, Rapinoe (September 25, 2024). A Touch More: The Road IS Good: Diana Taurasi’s next chapter, MVP News, Plus Wise Words From Uzo Aduba (Podcast). Retrieved September 26, 2024 – via YouTube. In total she has been invited to the White House six times and has received invitations from every sitting U.S. president since George H. W. Bush.

{{Portal|Sports|Biography}}

• UConn Huskies women's basketball
• List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games
• List of Connecticut women's basketball players with 1000 points
• List of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball players with 500 assists
• List of select Jewish basketball players
• List of Jewish Olympic medalists
• List of WNBA career scoring leaders
• List of WNBA career assists leaders
• List of Women's National Basketball Association career steals leaders
• List of Women's National Basketball Association season assists leaders

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=The Wade Trophy |url=http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_wade-trophy |publisher=Women's Basketball Coaches Association |access-date=June 30, 2014}}

{{cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Jeff |title='Bird At The Buzzer' The Definitive Women's Basketball Tale |url=http://www.ctnow.com/news/hc-jacobs-notre-dame-uconn-0305-20110305,0,3562985.column |work=Hartford Courant |date=March 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808153457/http://www.ctnow.com/news/hc-jacobs-notre-dame-uconn-0305-20110305,0,3562985.column |archive-date=August 8, 2011}}

Porter p. 42

{{cite web |title=UConn Media Guide |url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/auto_pdf/photos/schools/conn/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/0910-mg-pt8-history |page=141 |access-date=September 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612102538/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/auto_pdf/photos/schools/conn/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/0910-mg-pt8-history |archive-date=June 12, 2012 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |title=WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores |url=http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_box_scores |publisher=Women's Basketball Coaches Association |access-date=June 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715064856/http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_box_scores |archive-date=July 15, 2014}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/10_wnt_sats_roster.html |title=Six Olympic Gold Medalists Among 11-Member Team Set To Participate In WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun Game |date=June 30, 2010 |publisher=USA Basketball |access-date=July 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707014943/http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/10_wnt_sats_roster.html |archive-date=July 7, 2010}}

{{cite web |title=Fourteenth World Championship For Women – 2002 |date=June 10, 2010 |url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fourteenth-world-championship-for-women-2002.aspx |publisher=USA Basketball |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905200622/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fourteenth-world-championship-for-women-2002.aspx |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 19, 2015}}

{{cite web |title=Fifteenth World Championship For Women – 2006 |date=June 10, 2010 |url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fifteenth-world-championship-for-women-2006.aspx |publisher=USA Basketball |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905200902/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fifteenth-world-championship-for-women-2006.aspx |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 19, 2015}}

{{cite web |url=http://czechrepublic2010.fiba.com/ |title=FIBA World Championship for Women |publisher=FIBA |access-date=July 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710034115/http://czechrepublic2010.fiba.com/ |archive-date=July 10, 2010}}

{{cite web |title=Sixteenth World Championship For Women – 2010 |date=October 15, 2013 |url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/sixteenth-world-championship-for-women-2010.aspx |publisher=USA Basketball |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905195252/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/sixteenth-world-championship-for-women-2010.aspx |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 19, 2015}}

{{cite web |title=Sue Bird |url=http://www.seniorclassaward.com/athletes/sue_bird/ |website=Seniorclassaward.com |access-date=January 5, 2013}}

{{cite journal |title=PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL |url=http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/basketball |journal=The Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program |access-date=May 8, 2014}}

{{cite web |title=U.S. women win 5th gold in row |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer/2012/basketball/story/_/id/8260119/2012-london-olympics-united-states-women-basketball-team-wins-5th-straight-gold |work=ESPN |access-date=August 11, 2012 |date=August 11, 2012}}

}}

• {{cite book |last=Goldberg |first=Jeff |others=foreword by Doris Burke |title=Bird at the Buzzer: UConn, Notre Dame, and a Women's Basketball Classic |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |location=Lincoln |year=2011 |isbn=9780803224117 |oclc=660801685}}
• {{cite book |title=Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary |editor-last=Porter |editor-first=David L. |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2005 |isbn=9780313309526 |oclc=57243370}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{FIBA profile|new_id=141635|old_id=42414}}
• [https://www.usab.com/players/sue-bird Sue Bird] at USA Basketball
• {{Team USA|new_id=sue-bird|old_id=BI/Sue-Bird|archive=20230318094454}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20040820174215/http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_1119.htm archive August 20, 2004])
• {{Olympedia}}
• {{Olympics.com profile}}
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208050050/http://basket.ugmk.com/en/team/sb/ |date=December 8, 2012 |title=UMMC profile}}
• {{IMDb name}}
• [https://www.atouchmore.com A Touch More] production company and podcast

{{s-start}}

{{s-sports|oly}}

{{succession box

| before = Erin Hamlin

| title = Flagbearer for {{USA}}

| years = (with Eddy Alvarez)
Tokyo 2020

| after = LeBron James
Coco Gauff
París 2024

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes|title= Awards and achievements|list1=

{{Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members}}

{{2025 Basketball HOF}}

{{Wade Trophy}}

{{Naismith Player of the Year women}}

{{Nancy Lieberman Award}}

{{Senior CLASS Award - Women's Basketball}}

{{ESPY Best Female College Athlete}}

{{Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}

{{2000 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball navbox}}

{{2002 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball navbox}}

{{USBWA National Player of the Year – Women}}

{{2002 WNBA draft}}

{{WNBADec}}

{{WNBA Top 15 Team}}

{{WNBA Top 20 Team}}

{{The W25}}

{{WNBA First Overall Picks}}

{{WNBA assists leaders}}

{{Seattle Storm 2004 WNBA Champions}}

{{Seattle Storm 2010 WNBA Champions}}

{{Seattle Storm 2018 WNBA Champions}}

{{Seattle Storm 2020 WNBA champions}}

{{United States Women's Basketball 2002 FIBA Champions}}

{{United States Women Basketball Squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}

{{United States Women Basketball Squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}

{{United States Women's Basketball 2010 FIBA Champions}}

{{United States Women Basketball Squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}

{{United States Squad 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women}}

{{United States Women Basketball Squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}

{{United States Squad 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup}}

{{United States Women Basketball Squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}

{{WBC Spartak Moscow Region 2006–07 Euroleague Women champions}}

{{WBC Spartak Moscow Region 2007–08 Euroleague Women champions}}

{{WBC Spartak Moscow Region 2008–09 Euroleague Women champions}}

{{WBC Spartak Moscow Region 2009–10 Euroleague Women champions}}

{{Honda Sports Award}}

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird, Sue}}

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:All-American college women's basketball players

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Russia

Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:American women's basketball players

Category:Basketball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Category:Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Category:Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Category:Basketball players at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Category:Basketball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:Jewish American basketball players

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Category:Lesbian Jews

Category:LGBTQ basketball players

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Category:American lesbian sportswomen

Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics

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Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:NJ/NY Gotham FC owners

Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball

Category:Sportspeople from Syosset, New York

Category:Basketball players from Nassau County, New York

Category:Point guards

Category:Seattle Storm draft picks

Category:Seattle Storm players

Category:Syosset High School alumni

Category:UConn Huskies women's basketball players

Category:WNBA All-Stars

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Category:Seattle Storm owners

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Category:21st-century Israeli sportswomen