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Sue Bird

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Parent: NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Hop 4
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Sue Bird
NameSue Bird
CaptionBird with the Seattle Storm in 2018
PositionPoint guard
Birth date16 October 1980
Birth placeSyracuse, New York
NationalityAmerican / Israeli
CollegeUniversity of Connecticut
Draft year2002
Draft teamSeattle Storm
Career start2002
Career end2022
Years12002–2022
Team1Seattle Storm
Years22004–2005
Team2Dynamo Moscow
Years32005–2006
Team3Spartak Moscow Region
Years42006–2007
Team4UMMC Ekaterinburg
Years52010–2011
Team5Spartak Moscow Region
Years62011–2014
Team6UMMC Ekaterinburg
Highlights* 4× WNBA champion (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) * 13× WNBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) * 5× All-WNBA First Team (2002–2005, 2016) * 3× All-WNBA Second Team (2008, 2010, 2011) * 3× WNBA assists leader (2005, 2009, 2016) * WNBA Top 20@20 * WNBA Top 25 Team * 5× EuroLeague Women champion (2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014) * 2× NCAA champion (2000, 2002) * Naismith College Player of the Year (2002) * John R. Wooden Award (2002)

Sue Bird is a retired American professional basketball player who is widely considered one of the greatest point guards in the history of women's basketball. Her entire domestic professional career was spent with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA, where she led the franchise to four championships and became the league's all-time assists leader. Internationally, Bird won five EuroLeague Women titles with powerhouse clubs in Russia and was a cornerstone of the United States national team for nearly two decades, capturing a record five Olympic gold medals.

Early life and college career

Born in Syracuse, New York, Bird attended Syracuse's Christ the King Regional High School in Queens before committing to play for the University of Connecticut Huskies under legendary coach Geno Auriemma. At UConn, she was a key floor general on two undefeated national championship teams in 2000 and 2002, forming a legendary backcourt with Diana Taurasi. Bird received numerous national player of the year awards in her senior season, including the Naismith College Player of the Year and the Wade Trophy, and was a two-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the nation's top point guard.

Professional career

Selected first overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft, Bird spent her entire 19-season WNBA career with the franchise, becoming its enduring leader. She won WNBA championships in 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020, and was named to a record 13 All-Star teams. Bird led the league in assists three times and retired as the WNBA's all-time leader in that category and in games played. During WBA off-seasons, she had a storied career in Europe, winning multiple domestic league titles and five EuroLeague Women championships with Russian giants Dynamo Moscow, Spartak Moscow Region, and UMMC Ekaterinburg.

National team career

A mainstay for the United States national team, Bird's international career is marked by unprecedented success. She made her senior team debut at the 2002 FIBA World Championship for Women and went on to compete in four World Cup tournaments, winning gold in 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2018. Her Olympic career is legendary, as she is the only basketball player to win five Olympic gold medals, achieving the feat at the 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 Games, often serving as team captain.

Playing style and legacy

Renowned for her exceptional basketball IQ, clutch shooting, and peerless leadership, Bird was the quintessential floor general. Her ability to control tempo, execute in critical moments, and elevate her teammates defined her career. She is celebrated as a pioneer who helped grow the WNBA and inspire a generation, with her longevity and sustained excellence setting a new standard. Bird's legacy is cemented as one of the most decorated and influential players in the sport's history, often mentioned alongside contemporaries like Lisa Leslie and Diana Taurasi.

Personal life

Bird is engaged to NWSL soccer star Megan Rapinoe; the couple are prominent advocates for LGBT rights and social justice. She holds dual citizenship with the United States and Israel, qualifying through her father, and has played for Israel's national team in European qualifying. Bird has been involved in various business ventures, including ownership stakes in the NWSL's OL Reign and the NWSL expansion team Bay FC, and is a production executive with NFL Films.

Awards and honors

Bird's accolades are extensive, including four WNBA championships, 13 All-Star selections, and five All-WNBA First Team honors. She was named to both the WNBA Top 20@20 and WNBA Top 25 teams. Her collegiate awards feature the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award. Internationally, she is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Cup champion. Bird has also been inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:American women's basketball players Category:Seattle Storm players Category:UConn Huskies women's basketball players Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees