Sue Bird

2022 - 6 - 16

WNBA legend Sue Bird retiring after this season (ESPN)

WNBA legend Sue Bird, the league's all-time assists leader, announced Thursday that she will retire at the end of the 2022 season.

"That's really the beauty of it," Bird said. "There's going to be a lot of stories written and comparisons made about her and everything she's done. Off the court, she served as vice president of the WNBA players' association and helped negotiate the league and players' landmark collective bargaining agreement in 2020. "It's exciting to watch people who score, it's exciting to watch people who can make amazing plays on the floor," Bird said her legacy of how she played the game. Bird diversified her off-court portfolio in recent years with various endeavors, including a front office position with the Denver Nuggets and an ESPN megacast with Taurasi during the women's Final Four this past spring. And you can have success in that way too." The 5-foot-9 point guard recorded her 3,000th career assist on July 9, 2021, and boasts 3,114 dimes -- 514 more than any other player -- heading into the Storm's game Friday against the Sun, averaging at least five assists per game in 15 of her 19 seasons and at least six five times. She was named national player of the year in 2002 while part of arguably the greatest starting five in women's college basketball history. I feel so connected to the team, to the city, to the fanbase, to all the people that have come through, and that's really what it's about. Bird added to her storied success on the international stage last year in Tokyo, when she helped USA Basketball take home its ninth Olympic gold medal and seventh straight. "Of course, I'm sad," Bird said. "I am very proud of playing my whole career in Seattle," Bird said.

Seattle Storm guard, four-time champion Sue Bird announces 2022 ... (USA TODAY)

The WNBA's all-time assist leader, 12-time All-Star and five-time Olympic gold medalist has spent her entire 21-year career with the Seattle Storm.

She was named the AP College Player of the Year in 2002 and led UConn to a 39-0 record that season "I have loved every single minute, and still do, so gonna play my last year, just like this little girl played her first." She also is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and is the WNBA career leader in assists, games and minutes played.

Sue Bird announces retirement at end of 2022 season - Seattle Storm (SeattleStorm.com)

Bird, who is one of the most decorated women's professional basketball players in history, has spent her entire 21-year career with the Storm, having played in ...

In addition, she has scored or assisted on 27.5% of every basket scored in Seattle Storm history, including the four seasons she didn’t play (2000, 2001, 2013 and 2019). When only including games she has played in, Bird has scored or assisted on 35.4% of all Storm baskets. Bird, who is one of the most decorated women’s professional basketball players in history, has spent her entire 21-year career with the Storm, having played in 19 seasons—the most of any player in WNBA history. In addition, Bird has won a record five Olympic gold medals to go along with four WNBA championships, two NCAA Championships, and five EuroLeague titles.

Sue Bird to retire at the end of 2022 WNBA season (The UConn Blog)

Bird will go down as one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time, with five Olympic gold medals, four WNBA titles, two national championships, ...

Last summer in Tokyo, she was voted Team USA’s flag bearer by the other Olympians. Bird went on to become the first basketball player ever to win five gold medals alongside former UConn teammate Diana Taurasi. As a senior, Bird starred on arguably the greatest UConn team ever as the Huskies went a perfect 39-0 en route to their third national title. Bird is the only player in league history to play at least 500 games.

The Seattle Storm's Sue Bird announces this season will be her last ... (NPR)

Bird has played with the Seattle Storm since being drafted by the team in 2002. On Thursday, she announced that the current WNBA season, her 19th playing, ...

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Sue Bird Makes Retirement Official (Forbes)

In news that is monumental despite being expected, WNBA icon and Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird announced Thursday that the 2022 season will be her last.

"I'd rather be on a team that has a chance to win if it means that the money has to get spread in a different way. While money is amazing and of course we all want to be in a workplace that rewards you in those ways, I find that winning there are going to be other rewards — some monetary, some otherwise. "To me, winning championships and being a part of teams that go on that journey, that's everything," Bird said earlier this year at her press conference announcing her re-signing with the Storm. "That's why I play.

Sue Bird to retire after WNBA season - CNN (CNN)

Sue Bird, one of the winningest basketball players ever, will retire from the WNBA after this season, the Seattle Storm guard announced Thursday.

She looks forward to retirement, saying she was excited and, "I get to start this new life." She alluded to an ESPN show she did with Diana Taurasi during the Final Four, saying cheekily, "Maybe that becomes a thing." She said she looks forward to things that basketball seasons keeps a player from, pointing out she won't have to set an alarm for early morning workouts and she can take real vacations without an eye on the next year.