WNBA legend Sue Bird has announced that this will be her last season.
“I’ve decided this will be my final year,” Bird, 41, said on Twitter. “I have loved every single minute, and still do, so gonna play my last year, just like this little girl played her first.”
I’ve decided this will be my final year. I have loved every single minute, and still do, so gonna play my last year, just like this little girl played her first ☺️ #TheFinalYear @seattlestorm pic.twitter.com/Uo2YqCCKUD
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) June 16, 2022
The 12-time All-Star and eight-time All-WNBA selection said she considered retiring last year but decided to sign up for one more season with the Seattle Storm.
Sue Bird announces this will be her final year after 21 seasons in the WNBA
-4x champion
-WNBA all-time assists leader
-5x Olympic gold medalist
-12x All-StarWhat a career ❤️ @HighlightHER pic.twitter.com/bSg8XMgswr
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 16, 2022
Bird has spent her entire 21-year career with the Storm, who drafted her in the first round back in 2002 out of UConn.
“As the season has gone, like I said, I pretty much knew, and then once I saw the schedule, and then once I started packing for this trip a little bit, I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be my last time playing in New York. My last time playing in front of my family and friends.’ And so that’s why the timing of this is what it is,” said Bird.
“I just really felt strongly about announcing my retirement, saying it was my last year so I can share that with my family and my friends, all the people in New York who have watched me growing up so they can come and see me play for the last time in my home state. So I’m excited about that. It’s also bittersweet.”
Tributes poured in immediately for the WNBA legend.
Sue Bird is Storm basketball.
Every moment, every memory has one constant. No. 10.
It’s time for the final chapter.#TheFinalYear x #TakeCover pic.twitter.com/d0UJfpGahM
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) June 16, 2022
The NBA Today crew pays tribute to Sue Bird after announcing her retirement from the WNBA ❤️ @espnW
“19 seasons? … That’s a hell of a run of greatness.” pic.twitter.com/rlUOPfzjNe
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 16, 2022
The 🐐. Congrats on a legendary career @S10Bird.
👀 the best is yet to come 👀 https://t.co/Ed4VdbE5EN
— Nike (@Nike) June 16, 2022
Your Time, Your Way @S10Bird 💐 🫡Now y’all can stop asking me da 🐦 has spoken 😘 https://t.co/pHxR5FC0xM
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) June 16, 2022
Legend! Well done and enjoy this final stretch!!!!!!!! https://t.co/jHJJo1Uvp7
— Heather O'Reilly (@HeatherOReilly) June 16, 2022
Congrats legend!!! One of the greatest to ever do it @S10Bird 🐐🐐🐐 https://t.co/nLRuHgnK67
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) June 16, 2022
{ESPN}