While the Seattle Storm lost a close game to the Phoenix Mercury 85-82 on August 17, 2025, this contest will still go down in history for Storm fans. Hours before tipoff, women’s basketball legend Sue Bird became the first ever player to have a statue created by her former WNBA franchise. The statue was revealed outside Climate Pledge arena. Bird was joined by two of her former UConn teammates, Diana Taurasi and Swin Cash, and by fellow Storm legend Lauren Jackson. 

"People keep asking me what it feels like to be the first," Bird said during her speech. "The truth is that I never set out to be the first at anything, but if being the first means I won't be the last, if this statue means that 20 years from now there will be statues of other WNBA greats—some who are in the audience and players whose names you don't even know yet—then I'm proud to be the first."

The bronze statue depicts Bird making a layup. The same silhouette also appears on the Climate Pledge court. The designers considered making the statue one of her throwing a pass (she ended her WNBA career with 3,234 assists), but ultimately landed on the layup to commemorate Bird’s first WNBA points.  

"Some fun little fact about my career that maybe some of you know, maybe not," Bird said. "My very first points in the WNBA at KeyArena as a rookie were on a layup. My very final points in the WNBA were at Climate Pledge on a layup."

Bird’s basketball career was historic. The Seattle Storm selected her number one in the 2002 draft, and she spent all 21 seasons of her career with the franchise. She is a 5-time Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA, a 4-time WNBA champion (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020), a 13-time All-Star (WNBA record), and a 2-time NCAA champion. 

"We can have that basketball conversation," Cash, who won national titles at UConn and the 2010 WNBA championship with Bird, said. "Greatness changes the game. Greatness evolves. Greatness stays and has longevity. And that's what Sue has."

Life after Basketball

In her retirement from professional basketball, Bird has embraced a variety of pursuits, including media production, ownership and advocacy. Alongside Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel, Bird co-founded Togethxr in 2021, a media and commerce company focused on women's sports and culture. Togethxr creates content, apparel, and experiences that aim to amplify women's voices in sports and beyond, fostering a community that celebrates their achievements and stories. 

Bird is the host of not one, but two podcasts. She co-hosts A Touch More with retired women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who is also her fiancé. The pair explore the latest headlines in women's sports, share personal athlete stories, and highlight the intersection of sports and pop culture while offering insights into their lives together. Bird also hosts a solo podcast called Birds Eye View, where she interviews WNBA athletes and offers basketball insight and analysis. 

“If being the first means I won't be the last, if this statue means that 20 years from now there will be statues of other WNBA greats—some who are in the audience and players whose names you don't even know yet—then I'm proud to be the first.”

Sue Bird

Bird also joined the Seattle Storm ownership group in April 2024. Before that, she invested in the NWSL franchise NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2022, while she was still an active WNBA player.  

"There's really no better business," Bird told ESPN. "I always tell people, if you were to remove 'women's sports' or 'women's basketball' or 'women's soccer' or whatever sport you're talking about from the name of the business or the company and you just looked at the numbers, the growth, the trajectory, all the things, people would be jumping at this opportunity. That's really how I see it."

In May 2025, Bird was named the inaugural managing director of USA Basketball. She will be responsible for identifying the USA Women’s National Team coaching staff and players for major international competitions, including the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, and the program’s training camps over the next three years.   

“This is a different type of pressure," Bird said. "I'm hoping to bring all that I learned as a player, all my experience, all my understanding. The whole goal is to win a gold medal, and it feels at times that's the only option. ... I know what it's like to be a player, know what it's like as a player to build teams and have teams come together and see what clicks."

Outside of her business and professional ventures, Bird enjoys reading fiction books, attending sporting events as a fan, trying new workout classes and going out to dinner with friends. Bird said that she still struggles with feeling guilty or unproductive on off days. 

“I’m still shedding some of my old ways and habits. For a while, there was a little bit of guilt if I didn’t work out or if I wanted to eat pizza and ice cream for a week straight,” Bird told The Cut. “Sometimes, the days off are my hardest because I’m so used to being active and busy constantly. What I’ve tried to put into my routine is ways to quiet myself and kind of chill.”

Bird's legacy transcends her remarkable playing career, as she continues to be a transformative figure in women's basketball and sports overall. From her historic achievements on the court to her influential roles in media, ownership, and advocacy for women's sports, Bird's impact remains profound. She is dedicated to uplifting the next generation of athletes, ensuring that the growth of women's sports continues to flourish long after her retirement. Bird's unwavering commitment to championing women's voices and stories exemplifies her greatness, solidifying her place as a role model for athletes everywhere.