Four-Time WNBA Champion and Five-Time Olympian returns to the Storm in 2022
The Seattle Storm have announced that four-time WNBA Champion, 12-time All-Star and the WNBA’s all-time assist leader Sue Bird has re-signed with the team. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Sue Bird is Storm Basketball,” said Talisa Rhea, Storm General Manager. “It’s rare to have someone play their entire career for one team and Sue has done that for our city, our franchise and our fans. To have Sue lead the franchise back home, to the city of Seattle, and Climate Pledge Arena is extremely special. Sue’s on-court accolades continue to cement her legacy as one of the best to ever play the game. Off the court, Sue has established an everlasting impact worldwide as she continues to fight for equality, inspire future generations, and elevate those around her.”
Bird, who is one of the most decorated women’s professional basketball players in history, has spent her entire 21-year career with the Storm with 2022 set to be her 19th season on the court—the most by any player in WNBA history. Bird has been honored on each of the WNBA’s milestone teams including the All-Decade Team (2006), Top 15 Players (2011), Top 20@20 (2016) and was named to the W25 team in 2021 as one of the 25 greatest and most influential players in league history. In addition, she has won a record five Olympic gold medals to go along with two NCAA Championships and five EuroLeague titles.
Bird is the WNBA’s all-time assist leader, recording her 3,000th career assist on July 9 at Phoenix. Overall, she has 3,048 career assists—448 more than any other player. She is the only player to play in at least 500 games, starting in each of her 549 career games played. In addition, Bird ranks second in career three-pointers made (945), fourth in steals (687), and seventh in points (6,561).
Bird’s 2021 season was another impressive one statistically, leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.40 en route to her league-record 12th All-Star appearance. On the year, she averaged 10.0 points, 5.3 assists, 0.9 steals per game and connected on 2.23 three-pointers per game—the most single-season makes in her career. She enters the 2022 campaign having made a three-pointer in 28-straight games—the longest active streak in the league.
“Sue is the best point guard to ever play our game and we are so excited to have her back for another season,” said Noelle Quinn, Storm Head Coach. “What she’s done for the organization and city of Seattle is nothing short of amazing. Her leadership, competitive spirit, and passion for the game shines through every time she steps foot on the court.”
Bird has been a part of the Storm franchise for 21 of the team’s 23 seasons of existence including each of the four championship seasons. She has scored or assisted on 27.6% of every basket in Storm history, including four seasons she didn’t play.
The Seattle Storm opens the 2022 season on Friday, May 6, hosting the Minnesota Lynx in its return home, playing its first full season in Seattle since 2018 at the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena. Tickets are available at http://ticketcentral.seattlestormbasketball.com
