Photographic Memory: Seattle’s Sue Bird

WNBA.com's "Photographic Memory" asks players to look at a photo of themselves and talk about what it captures -- what was going through their mind at that moment of the game and what the photo reveals about their style. Here, All-Star guard and Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird calls the play and talks about her role as floor general of the defending champion Seattle Storm.

Bird's ability to call plays using hand signals probably comes in handy playing in Russia.
Juan Ocampo/NBAE/Getty Images

Q. What is your reaction when you see this picture?
"First Reaction? I look like a dork. Second reaction? I'm calling a play. Horns down. Horn's down is a special play that I cannot reveal at this time."

Q. What's it like to be point guard in the WNBA, like the quarterback on the court?
"It's something I take a lot of pride in, something I take very seriously, but also have fun with. It's one thing to have the responsibility, but it's another thing to really accept it and want to excel in it. And I love being the general on the floor, almost the coach on the floor."

Q. As the coach on the floor, do you feel responsible for every other player's position?
"Yeah, even if somebody else messes up, I take full responsibility because I should have told them where to go, that type of thing. And I think if you have a player like that on the court, who's going to take that responsibility, it kind of can ease everybody else's mind in a way."

Q. How do you get your mind set for something like that?
"For me, it started in college. That was what was expected of
me in college, and it's kind of just the mindset I've had ever
since, it's not really something I prepare for, it's just something I do."

Q. What is your favorite point guard moment on the court?
"I think the best is when maybe you recognize a defense change or you call a play and your coach is like, "O.K., good, that's exactly what I would've called." It's just something where, when you do it right."