Last Sunday, the Seattle Storm retired Sue Bird’s No. 10 jersey in a ceremony that included numerous speeches by people in Sue’s life – Megan Rapinoe, Swin Cash, Lauren Jackson, Macklemore, and others. It had me reflecting on what it is about Sue that I admire.
Moving to Seattle was an easy excuse to latch on and cheer for the Storm. I’ve always been a fan. But it was more than that, and the ceremony allowed me to put my finger on it.
What struck me was not the emphasis on Sue as a player (although there was plenty of this) but on Sue’s impact transcending the game. As someone said, “Most elite athletes aren’t like you.” They implied a rare combination of talent, low ego, and exceptional on/off-court leadership – as an athlete, but more importantly, as a human.
If you follow basketball or live in Seattle, you probably know Sue Bird. If you don’t follow basketball, you probably still know Sue Bird. She’s arguably the:
- Greatest basketball player of all time
- Greatest point guard of all time
- Greatest athlete of all time
As her partner, famous USA soccer player and social activist Megan Rapinoe, put it, “Congratulations on, like, arguably the best career that anyone has ever had in the history of any sport ever.”
She’s had one of the most uniquely prolific and successful athletic careers. She spent her 20-year career with the Seattle Storm, winning 4 WNBA championships. Few athletes stay with one team and have this much success.
When you watch Sue play basketball, you see a high basketball IQ, fierce competitor, loyal teammate, and passionate leader. Off the court, Sue’s greatness shines even brighter. She combines confidence and low ego, selflessness, competitive drive and ambition, longevity, recovery from injury, class, and more.
Sue played an integral role during the previous WNBA collective bargaining agreement negotiation. The CBA is a labor agreement between the player’s union and league owners. The deal was touted as a historic moment, changing the financial landscape of women’s professional sports.
She advocates for change and is a beacon of light and inspiration to millions. Macklemore highlighted what it meant to his daughter to have Sue Bird to admire – a common sentiment so many people have expressed.
There is so much to say about Sue; like the retirement ceremony, this post could go on for a long time. Sue Bird is simply an outstanding leader. This is why I admire her.
Congratulations, Sue! Salute. #10Forever
Some* of Sue’s career highlights and accolades
- 4x WNBA champion (04, 10, 18, and 20)
- Only WNBA player to win titles in three different decades
- 13x WNBA All-Star
- Top 10 all-time in:
- 1st in most seasons played (20)
- 1st in Games Played (580)
- 1st in assists (3,234)
- 1st in minutes Played (18,080)
- 1st in All-Star appearances (13)
- 1st in Turnovers (1,393)
- 2nd in 3-pointers made (1,001)
- 2nd in 3-point attempts (2,551)
- 3rd in steals (725)
- 5th in Field goal attempts (5,778)
- 6th in Field goals made (3,299)
- 6th in Field Goals missed (3,233)
- 7th in Points (6,803)
- WNBA 10, 15, 20, and 25th Anniversary Teams
- 1st overall pick in the WNBA draft
- 2x NCAA Champion (UConn)
- AP College Player of the Year
- USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year (2021), Wade Trophy, and Naismith Awards
- 5 Olympic Gold Medals (04, 08, 12, 16, and 20)
- 4 FIBA World Cup Gold Medals (02, 10, 14, 18)
- 5x Euro-League Champion (07-10, 13)
- Held a front office position for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets