A Monument to Greatness: Celebrating Sue Bird’s Historic Career
On Sunday, the Seattle Storm unveiled a bronze statue commemorating the historic career of one of the greatest ever to play the game, Sue Bird. The first WNBA player in history to be honored this way, the statue displays Sue shooting a layup, an homage to her first points scored in the league. Little did that 21-year-old girl know how far her impact would stretch.
Sue Bird poses alongside her statue during its unveiling outside Climate Pledge Arena on August 17, 2025 (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)
The Blueprint for a Winner
Sue Bird displaying her NCAA National Championship trophy after defeating Oklahoma in 2002 (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Sue spent her collegiate years as a player on the UConn Huskies, leading the team to two NCAA national championships in 2000 and 2002. Under the mentorship of coach Geno Auriemma, she became a three-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner and was also named the 2002 Naismith College Player of the Year. On top of that, in her four years at UConn, the team had a 114-4 record, which we still can’t wrap our heads around. Everyone knew that Sue was a winner, and this put her in a great position as a star transitioning into a pro.
Twenty-One Seasons, One Team
Sue Bird was chosen as the No. 1 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm (Bill Kostroun/AP Photo)
Sue was drafted first overall by the Seattle Storm in 2002 and spent her entire 21-season career in the WNBA with the franchise. She was loyal to the team and its fan base, serving as a leader both on and off the court. It’s only fitting that a leader also be the ultimate floor general, and Sue was selfless in her ability to feed her teammates, helping bring Seattle its first two titles in 2004 and 2010. The winning roster, built around dominant forces like Bird, Lauren Jackson, Swin Cash, and Tanisha Wright, was a fan-favorite era. After their championship in 2010, the Storm underwent many changes, and Sue was the last remaining piece of that core. After a rough couple of years, they were able to rebuild, drafting Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart in 2015 and 2016. In true Sue fashion, she led the team to two more championships in 2018 and 2020, being the only WNBA player in history to win titles in three different decades.
Sue Bird posing with her first WNBA Title Trophy in 2004 (PC: WNBA)
Those are just Sue’s WNBA titles, though. Her remarkable individual accolades and records in the league are really what put her on a whole different level. As the WNBA’s all-time assists leader with 3,234, she did more than facilitate. She put her teammates in the best position possible to capitalize on looks. Sue was named to the All-WNBA First Team five times (once in her rookie season) and All-WNBA Second Team three times. Her legacy extends far beyond those selections, and she was named to the WNBA All-Decade Team as well as the league’s Top 15, 20, and W25 players of all time. Of course, she was an all-star, an astounding 13 times. If that doesn’t prove her longevity, maybe her 580 career starts in 580 games played does. Yes, she never came off the bench in 19 years. On top of this unfathomable list of accolades, Sue is also a three-time recipient of the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, which you can argue is more meaningful than any statistic she’s recorded.
The Golden Standard
Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi posing with their fifth Olympic gold medals in 2021 (Ned Dishman/Getty Images)
While the statue commemorates her outstanding WNBA career, Sue was equally as impactful on the international stage. As if those awards don’t show how decorated a player she is, she is one of only two basketball players to win five Olympic gold medals; the other player is none other than Diana Taurasi. She also won four gold medals and one bronze medal in the FIBA World Cup for Team USA. Overseas, she also achieved multiple EuroLeague and National League championships in addition to many other awards.
Her Own CEO
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe’s photoshoot for “A Touch More Live” (PC: Raven B. Varona)
Beyond all of her achievements on the court, Sue has leveraged her platform to become a powerful voice in the fight for gender equity and LGBTQ+ rights. Alongside her wife, soccer legend Megan Rapinoe, they launched A Touch More, a production company that aims to push stories of underrepresented and marginalized communities. Since 2022, they created A Touch More: The Podcast, where they break down news in the sports communities through a series of conversations with some of our favorite stars (with occasional live tapings). They’ve also teamed up with Future Shack Entertainment to secure the adaptation rights for a series based on the bestselling queen romance novel, Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner.
Sue Bird promoting TOGETHXR on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC/Getty Images)
If you’ve been to any women’s sporting event, you’ve seen (and probably own) the “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” shirt. Well, Sue is also one of the masterminds behind this incredible idea. She is one of the co-founders of TOGETHXR, a media and commerce company that works to celebrate the stories of female athletes. Alongside superstars Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, and Simone Manuel, Sue works to push equality and diversity in sports coverage, reminding everyone of why women are worth the investment.
Sue Bird after her final WNBA game on September 6, 2022 (Joshua Huston/Getty Images)
After hearing all of her accomplishments throughout a career that spans over two decades, it’s not hard to understand why Seattle built a statue in Sue’s honor. Her legacy on the court is unlike anyone else's, built on consistent greatness day in and day out. More than that, her off-court advocacy as a voice for equality is just another reason why she is recognized as a legend.