Storm's Sue Bird Ruled Out for 2019 Season Amid Knee Surgery Recovery

Seattle Storm star Sue Bird will miss the remainder of the 2019 season, the team confirmed Tuesday.

"While it has been difficult not to be on the court with my teammates, I am very proud of what they have accomplished this season," Bird said. "I look forward to suiting up for the Storm in 2020."

The announcement confirmed what many already expected. Bird hasn't played at all this year after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her left knee in May.

The defending champion Storm have also been without 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart, who ruptured her Achilles in the EuroLeague championship game in April.

Injuries have been a dominant theme for Seattle, with Jewell Loyd, Jordin Canada and Alysha Clark all missing time as well. As a result, the Storm sit seventh in the standings at 16-15, having already secured a playoff berth.

The fact they made the postseason at all is a minor miracle considering how much production they lost from last year's squad. Many pegged the Storm as a lottery team entering the campaign.

Bird's injury has provided a silver lining in that it forced Canada to assume a bigger role in the rotation. The second-year point guard is averaging 10.0 points, 5.1 assists and a league-best 2.3 steals per game. She's also shooting 38.3 percent from the field and 20.0 percent on three-pointers, both of which are improvements from her rookie season.

Seattle will continue to lean heavily on Canada to run the offense in the playoffs, which will provide her with more valuable experience ahead of eventually succeeding Bird when the 38-year-old inevitably retires.