Iconic storm athlete Sue Bird set to receive outdoor statue at Climate Pledge Arena
Let the Good Times Roll for Sue Bird!
Well, it's time to bowl over Seattle because guess who's getting a statue of her own? None other than the inimitable Sue Bird! The iconic WNBA star, whose extremely talented ass was already retired and hoisted high in the Climate Pledge Arena rafters back in 2023, is going to have a bronze beauty standing proud right alongside basketball legend Lenny Wilkens.
The date for her statue unveiling is set for August 17, and it'll be taking residence on the west plaza of Climate Pledge Arena, simply behaving like a queen sitting on her throne.
"Lenny Wilkens? He's got some serious game! But Sue, she's one of a kind," Storm President and CEO Alisha Valavanis exclaimed. "They've both cinched titles, inspired countless souls, and transformed Seattle into a basketball city unlike any other. We're pumped to honor Sue's legacy with this monumental moment!"
More juicy details about the sculptor responsible for immortalizing Bird haven't been disclosed yet, but rest assured we're keeping our eyes peeled for it. Given that the lucky artist has already bagged the commission to craft Jason Taylor's likeness in bronzed grandeur, it's safe to say the big unveiling is in good hands.
That's just the start of Sue Bird's well-deserved pile of post-career accolades. Last year, Seattle and Washington state honchos braveheartedly officially renamed a stretch of 2nd Avenue North to Sue Bird Court, making her the first WNBA star to have a city street named in her honor.
"Seattle, it's like a second home to me," Bird confessed. "I'm all sentimental when I tell you this city is a huge part of me. It's pretty tough to put it into words without getting emotional."
Bird joined the Storm in 2002, fresh off winning national championships and the National Player of the Year award at the University of Connecticut. The 5-foot-9 ponytailed point guard then spent an impressive 21-year, injury-be-damned WNBA career with the Storm, becoming a living, breathing encyclopedia of Seattle sports history.
In her remarkable career, the 13-time All-Star and eight-time All-WNBA selection sealed four league titles (2004, 2008, 2018, and 2020) and racked up the highest number of career assists (3,234), games played (580), and regular-season wins (333). Her stats make her the third-highest scorer (6,803 points), and justify her earning the label as one of the greatest athletes this city's ever seen.
Once the last buzzer went off during Bird's 2022 retirement, she didn't exactly hang up her jersey and give into couch potato-ism. She's been busy as a beaver, hosting a podcast and overseeing a media company, and recently snatched a spot in the Storm ownership group as a minority investor.
In May, she was named the first managing director of the USA Basketball women's team, and we're impatiently waiting to see her guide them to glory.
On September 5-6, Bird will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. She's going down in history as a fierce competitor, a gracious teammate, and a female athlete who relentlessly pursued her dreams while elevating those around her.
"Basketball's given me more than I could've ever repaid, but I've tried to leave it in a better place," Bird humbly admitted when she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame two weeks ago. "I hope I've shown young girls that they, too, can rule the court with grit and grace."
Stay tuned for more updates on this fearless lady's ongoing saga!
- The statue of Sue Bird, a renowned WNBA player whose career spanned Washington State, will be unveiled on August 17, 2022, beside basketball legend Lenny Wilkens at the Climate Pledge Arena.
- Last year, Seattle and Washington state honored Sue Bird by officially renaming a stretch of 2nd Avenue North to Sue Bird Court, making her the first WNBA player to have a city street named in her honor.
- Apart from her iconic basketball career, Sue Bird has also ventured into other fields, such as hosting a podcast and overseeing a media company, and recently became a minority investor in the Storm ownership group.
- In May 2022, Sue Bird was named the first managing director of the USA Basketball women's team, and she will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 5-6, 2022, in Springfield, Massachusetts.
