4X WNBA Champion, Sue Bird, Is Headed Back To Seattle

Seattle Storm Official Release

The veteran guard and WNBA all-time assist leader will continue her career in Seattle

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Seattle Storm has re-signed four-time WNBA Champion Sue Bird, the franchise announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Sue Bird has been synonymous with Storm basketball for two decades, leading this franchise to four WNBA championships,” said Storm CEO and GM Alisha Valavanis. “She is not only one of the best to ever play the game but one of the most important leaders in it. She has been integral in the growth of the league and its impact off the court. We are thrilled she’ll be back to lead the Storm this season.”

Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm poses with the trophy after winning her fourth WNBA Championship in Game Three of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces on October 6, 2020.

Bird is the longest-tenured player in the WNBA, and has spent her entire 20-year career in Seattle. She leads the league in career assists (2888) and games played (519) and is also the Storm’s franchise leader in points (6262) and steals (659).

“Seattle and the Storm franchise have been home for my entire career,” Bird said. “This is a special team and I’m looking forward to getting back on the court with them as well as representing this great city and our amazing fans.”

Bird is an 11-time WNBA All-Star and three-time regular-season assist leader. She has started in all 519 games in her career and was the first of only two players in the league to record both 5,000 points and 2,000 assists, along with Lindsay Whalen. In addition, Bird is ranked No. 8 in points, No. 4 in steals, and No. 3 in made three-pointers in league history.

In 2020, Bird had the best shooting season of her career, averaging 49.4% from the field and 46.9% from beyond the arc. She led the Storm to its fourth championship, setting the record for most assists in a WNBA Playoff game with 16 against the Aces.

A leader on all four Storm championship teams, Bird has also earned four Olympic gold medals, four FIBA World Cup gold medals and one bronze as a member of the USA Women’s National Team.

A Syosset, New York native and two-time NCAA champion at Connecticut, Bird was selected by the Storm with the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft. As a rookie, she won her first of five All-WNBA First Team selections.