Sue Bird Is Likely Retiring After This Upcoming Season, But That Doesn’t Mean She Wants a Farewell Tour: ‘It Doesn’t Necessarily Fit’
The upcoming WNBA season will be the last for the Seattle Storm‘s Sue Bird. The 20-year veteran will end her storied career and head into the Naismith Hall of Fame as soon as she is eligible. But Bird doesn’t want a “farewell tour” of sorts, as it doesn’t work well for her personality type.
Sue Bird #6 of Team United States celebrates after defeating Team Japan 90-75 to win the women’s gold medal match between Team United States and Team Japan on day sixteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on August 08, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
“I think it’s assumed to be my last and I do believe all arrows are pointing in that direction,” Bird said. “For some reason, I don’t necessarily want to operate in that space because I think for my personality … it doesn’t necessarily fit for every game I go into to be, ‘This is Sue’s last game in this city. This is her last time putting her shoe on.’ I don’t really operate in that space well, but I understand that comes with it.”
Bird was drafted number one by the Storm in 2002, out of women’s basketball powerhouse the University of Connecticut. She was fresh off her second national title, swept all five national player-of-the-year awards, and finished her collegiate career with a record of 114-4.
She paid dividends, immediately helping lead the Storm to their first playoff appearance and earned All-Star and All-WNBA honors.
Bird is a four-time WNBA champion, 12-time WNBA All-Star, eight-time All-WNBA, the WNBA all-time assists leader and a member of the WNBA’s 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th anniversary teams. She’s won five Olympic gold medals and four FIBA world championships as a member of Team USA women’s basketball.
We’re not done.
Like many WNBA players during the league’s first 20 years, Bird played overseas where the contracts were more lucrative, and she won there too. She’s a five-time Russian national league champion, five-time EuroLeague champion and two-time Europe SuperCup winner.
She’s also among the highest-paid WNBA players. According to Queen Baller, “Sue is one of the few WNBA stars who have endorsement deals.”
Sue has been with Nike since 2003. But since 2020, she’s also “signed deals with life insurance company Symetra (along with her life partner, Megan Rapinoe). And has had deals with State Farm and American Express in the past. She, along with seven other WNBA players, also has a Glossier deal,” said the publication.
To find out more about WNBA legend Sue Bird’s career and why she doesn’t want a farewell tour, click here.
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