Last week, Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm won the 2020 WNBA title, sweeping the Las Vegas Aces, 3-0. Bird was her normal dominant self, setting a WNBA playoff-record 16 assists in Game 1 – plus breaking another WNBA playoff-milestone with 10 dimes in the first half – and notching a double-double in Game 2 on 16 points and 10 assists.
Did I mention she did so as a spry 39-year-old? The ageless wonder is exactly that, an ageless wonder, and has now won four WNBA championships (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) – all with the Storm – to match her four Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). Even before her performance this season, Sue Bird was already one of the greatest basketball players of all time. At this point, her legend status merely continues to grow, and who knows where the limit may be for her, if there is one.
This video is from a couple of years ago when she was still a young 37-year-old. It looked back at her in her very first WNBA days, with clips from Geno Auriemma, Sue Bird herself and more.
If you’re looking for a collection of sick Bird highlights, move along. If you’re looking for a touching tribute to one of the best to ever do it, get your tissues ready because the tears will come.
The Legend of Sue Bird: A Pre-Professional Quick Recap
Sue Bird was born in Syosset, New York, and finished her high school career at Christ the King Regional High School in Queens, New York. In her senior year, she helped lead Christ the King to a state championship and was named New York State Player of the Year.
She was a hot commodity as a recruit, and a number of high-profile programs were in for her. Ultimately, Bird chose Connecticut and Auriemma, though injuries kept her from making a big impact as a freshman. As a sophomore, though, she was an integral part of UConn’s 36-1 season that ended with a national championship in 2001, then made major contributions as a junior to a team that went undefeated before falling in the Final Four.
She was taken No. 1 overall by the Storm in the 2002 WNBA Draft and was named a WNBA All-Star in her rookie season. From there, her legacy only grew, collecting WNBA records, championships, gold medals and becoming an icon for women’s basketball, women’s sports and basketball and athletics as a whole. And as physically impossible as it seems, Sue Bird really doesn’t seem to be slowing down much. Just ask the Aces what they think.
