Four-time WNBA champion holds stake in a $151 million franchise, despite a $72,000 income from her final contract.
From Stardust to Gemstone: Sue Bird's Rise to Basketball Royalty
Before the rise of Caitlin Clark, there was Sue Bird soaring through the skies of the basketball court. The four-time WNBA champ and 13-time All-Star spent her entire 19-year career with the Seattle Storm, a team she now owns a piece of.
Recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Bird, during her last season in 2022, pocketed a modest $72,000. Today, the franchise is worth over $150 million, and she's part of this gleaming empire.
As the wise old owl of the court, she's getting comfy in her second act. But it's essential to remember just how marvelous she was in her first.
Did You Know?
- Bird's Bounty: Bird's impressive resume holds 332 wins, the highest in WNBA history. She's the all-time leader in career starts with 580.
- Endless Titles: From 2004 to 2020, Bird captured four WNBA championships, a feat unmatched by any player in the league.
- Endurance Personified: Despite facing numerous injuries throughout her career, Bird's resilience shone as bright as a beacon.
Beyond the applause and accolades, Bird's longevity is her most stunning feat. She's a basketball Goliath, standing tall since her debut in the early 2000s.
More From the Hardwood
- The Business of Basketball: Despite averaging only $100K in her final season, Bird's career was worth a staggering $8 million. Curious about how that's possible? Learn more about the mega-brand, worth $41 billion, that continues to drive her success.
- The New Partnership: Star player Angel Reese teams up with racing legend Lewis Hamilton, setting a $26 million target for the WNBA. Will they smash it? Stay tuned!
Bird's career remains unmatched in the annals of the WNBA. Her jersey number 10 now hangs proudly in the rafters at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, a testament to her unforgettable legacy in the Pacific Northwest.
"It's not about basketball, in so many ways," Bird said at her retirement ceremony in June 2023. "The connection I have with the city, the fans, this franchise..." she trailed off, emphasizing the profound impact the city and the people have had on her life.
Seattle will always be woven into the fabric of Bird's life. "I'll miss it, and in some ways, that's okay," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "There'll be days, perhaps even cries, when I'll miss it, a year down the line, five years from now."
Though no longer on the court, Bird still gets a prime view from her seat in the owner's suite. A magnificent legacy for a player who once graced the court with her grace and finesse.
- Bird's career, even after averaging just $100K in her final season, was worth an astonishing $8 million, which she continues to benefit from as a part-owner of the Seattle Storm.
- Though Boxing and the NBA might seem world's apart, Sue Bird's $100K final season earnings pales in comparison to the $150 million worth of the Seattle Storm franchise, a testament to her enduring success.
- In a city where the Climate Pledge Arena now proudly displays Sue Bird's jersey number 10, it's clear that her love for basketball and her connection with Seattle run deep, a connection that transcends the game itself.
- Despite her illustrious career in the WNBA, with four championships, the highest win count, and the most career starts, Sue Bird's legacy is not just about sports but about her impact on the Pacific Northwest community that has been a crucial part of her journey.
- In the future, as the WNBA continues to grow, new players like Angel Reese might aim to surpass Sue Bird's earnings, with racing legend Lewis Hamilton's $26 million target serving as a clear benchmark, but Sue Bird's unmatched legacy in the WNBA remains a standard unsurpassed.
