By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Thank you, Sue Bird!
One of the most accomplished professional basketball players in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) officially called it a career after 20 years with the Seattle Storm.
Following a semifinal loss against the Las Vegas Aces in the recently concluded 2022 WNBA playoffs, Bird officially played her last WNBA game since announcing her retirement from basketball in the middle of the regular season.
Seattle was close to forcing a deciding Game 5 against the Aces but fell short during Game 4, 97-92, and shattered Bird’s dream of another WNBA championship title.
“It’s sad. Obviously so thankful for 20 years here. I’m gonna miss it so much. I’m not going anywhere, but I’m gonna miss it. I wish we could have done a little bit more to get to the finals, but I’m so proud of this team,” Bird said.
Despite the loss in front of her home fans, Bird still received the treatment she deserved and was overwhelmed with the love and cheers from the City that drafted her when she was still a young point guard coming off the University of Connecticut.
Bird will go down as one of the best point guards to play in the WNBA and will hang her jersey with four championships, 13 All-Star selections, five All-WNBA First team selections, and is a five-time Olympic gold medalist from 2004-2020.
After getting drafted by Seattle first overall during the 2002 WNBA season, Bird immediately buckled down to work and changed the fortune of the franchise forever.
Bird proved that she was the missing piece for Seattle to start winning and led the Storm to a playoff qualification for the first time in franchise history as a rookie point guard.
As her career grew, Seattle also elevated their status as one of the most successful teams in WNBA history and was one of the most consistent playoff teams until now.
Bird was then named as one of the top 25 players in WNBA history and is one of the 11 women to win an NCAA, WNBA, and Olympic title.
“I’m so, so, so, proud to be a member of the Seattle Storm. It has been my honor to play for this franchise, to play for these fans. I don’t know what else to say,” Bird closed.
