WNBA Legend Sue Bird to Receive Statue Outside Storm's Climate Pledge Arena

The Seattle Storm announced that it will honor franchise legend Sue Bird, a four-time WNBA champion, 13-time WNBA All-Star and eight-time All-WNBA player, with a statue outside its home stadium (Climate Pledge Arena).

That statue will be unveiled in a ceremony on August 17, when the Storm host the Phoenix Mercury. It will be located on the stadium's west plaza, where a statue honoring Seattle SuperSonics legend Lenny Wilkens was revealed on Saturday.

“Lenny Wilkens’ legacy in this city is undeniable — he helped lay the foundation for Seattle’s deep love of the game,” Storm President and CEO Alisha Valavanis said in a statement, per Percy Allen of the Seattle Times. “Both Lenny and Sue have brought home championships, inspired generations and helped shape Seattle into the incredible basketball city that it is today.

“The Storm are honored to be part of this monumental moment for Lenny, and we can’t wait to celebrate Sue and all that she’s meant to our city when we unveil her statue later this summer.”

Bird starred at UConn, winning national championships in 1999-2000 and 2001-02 and earning national player of the year honors in the latter season, before the Storm selected her with the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft. That no-brainer pick paid great dividends for the Storm, who saw Bird run the point in town for 19 seasons.

Bird retired after the 2022 season. A place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame awaits her soon enough (players must be retired for four full seasons before becoming eligible for consideration). In the meantime, she's receiving deserved honors for her career.

Her No. 10 jersey was retired during the 2023 season. Allen also wrote that local political leaders "officially renamed a section of 2nd Avenue North, on the southeast end of the arena, to Sue Bird Court."

Per Allen, Julie Amrany, a Chicago-based artist who has sculpted Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and A’ja Wilson, will create the Bird statue.

Bird, who grew up on Long Island, New York, spoke about how much Seattle means to her.

“I do find it hard to fully express what I mean when I say this city is a part of me,” Bird said, per Allen. “I almost get choked up. This city is a part of me and I’m a part of it. … What I’ve learned in my retirement is as time goes, this will always be special for the city and the fan base this relationship and what we shared, but ultimately it will probably be more special to me.

“I do feel like I grew up here in a lot of ways. I doubt I’ll ever sell my home here. Even if it isn’t the main home. I always want to be connected and I always want to have roots here.”

The city and its fans certainly love Bird back, and they'll get a chance to show their adulation for the star on Aug. 17. In the meantime, the Storm are enjoying a great start to the year, going 10-6 to sit tied for fourth in the current 13-team WNBA standings.