2022 Pacific Northwest Sports Top 10: Number 4 – Sue Bird

Jonathan West   |  

Aug 16, 2022

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Our ongoing Pacific Northwest Sports series moves on to No. 4, Seattle Storm All-Everything superstar Sue Bird.

After 631 career WNBA games, all with the Seattle Storm, Sue Bird said goodbye to the Emerald City on Sunday August 7th: for now. Her #FinalFlight season is still underway, and her team just finished ranked fourth in the WNBA- guaranteeing fans more home playoff games at The Greenhouse this week. Then she will be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, in a few years.

Climate Pledge Arena, only eight months old on Sunday, entertained its largest crowd ever at 18,100. Seattle’s basketball team averages 6,000 more fans than the other 11 WNBA teams combined. Sue Bird, the 13-time league all-star, finished Sunday’s loss to Las Vegas with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, including this one:

Sue Bird is a basketball legend and women’s sports role model who should have a place in our PNW Sports Top 10 list every year moving forward. After her final regular-season game, most of the sellout crowd stayed in their seats to honor a New York girl who went to college in Connecticut and then built her life in the PNW. What do you say about an athlete who has truly done it all? Pause and let her say it in her own words…

“I heard that ‘Thank You Sue’ chant and I was like, well thank God it’s not a ‘One More Year’ chant. [laughs]

I didn’t really prepare anything for this moment right here. I don’t know that there is preparing for it. I remember when Lauren (Jackson) retired, I had like three pages worth of things I wanted to say. This is not gonna be that just yet. I’m sure I’ll be back to roast everyone I’ve ever played with. [laughs] I just want to say from the bottom of my heart how thankful I am- not only for today and all of you showing up and supporting us, but for 21 years…part of me from the start. [applause]

Listen- I’m not gonna lie. It kind of sucks to lose my last game here. But you know what? I lost my first game too. [laughs] You guys supported me from from day one…a 21-year-old kid who had no idea what the city was about. I found out very quickly you supported me. You watched me grow up.”

Lasting Impact

I caught that Instagram reel in the middle of her farewell speech lasting almost five minutes. Maybe Charles Barkley didn’t think he was a role model before, but Sue Bird continues to show it on and off the court since 2002. Yelling and cheering during the entire game in front of me in Section 11 was Cass from Northgate. She told me what Sue Bird means to her.

“I literally don’t know basketball without her. Like, I mean, my parents got season tickets to the WNBA, but my first memories are watching Sue on the court in 2002. That’s when I started becoming a basketball fan. I mean, we watched the Sonics, but…basketball for me means Sue Bird.”

Sue Bird concluded her farewell address on that sunny Sunday Seafair afternoon in front of thousands at Seattle Center. That is after almost a million TV viewers tuned in for the game. Now that is transcendent.

“And you know, through a player’s career- there’s always opportunities to leave. This place is not only where I’ve played…it’s where I call home. There’s so many people that I want to thank, I’m not even going to attempt it. Like I said, there’ll be another time for that when I get to sit down and write it. It’s gonna be good- I promise. [laughs and applause]

But very quickly I do want to acknowledge our ownership group. Alisha (Valavanis). Karen Bryant. Again all the players. I know they’re somewhere in a suite- drinkin’. [laughs and applause] But every single person- Lin Dunn who drafted me, Anne Donovan- rest in peace. Brian Agler. Jenny Boucek who is in the building. Obviously Dan (Hughes) who is also in the building. Noelle (Quinn)…

I mean, listen- 21 years? I’m gonna be here for a minute when it comes to naming names. [laughs] But I did want to acknowledge everyone who made today possible. Not just this moment and and having a sold out crowd, but allowing me to be myself. It took me a minute to figure out who I was…but once I did, I was alright. And you guys allowed me to do that. [applause]

Alright, enough is enough. I don’t really have that ‘Mamba Out’ moment, but I just want to say I love you. Thank you so much and I’ll see you in the playoffs.”

Yes, we will, and also at her Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in September 2025. ??