Report: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm Agree to New Contract After Winning WNBA Title
Jan 31, 2021
Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird poses for a photo after the team won basketball's WNBA Championship Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The 40-year-old has agreed in principle to re-sign with the Seattle Storm, with whom she won her fourth WNBA title last season, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. She has played all 17 years of her career with the franchise.
Since being drafted No. 1 overall of Connecticut in 2002, Bird has gone on to collect 11 All-Star nods and four Olympic gold medals. She is a five-time All-WNBA First Team selection.
After a quieter regular-season campaign in which she tallied 9.8 points in 23.4 minutes per game—career lows in both—Bird broke out in the WNBA Finals as the Storm defeated the Las Vegas Aces in three games. She dished 16 assists in Game 1, a championship series record, and then recorded a double-double (16 points, 10 assists) in Game 2.
Bird has appeared in 519 games, the most by any player in league history. Her 2,888 career assists are also a league record. She ranks eighth all-time in points scored with 6,262.
While Bird is returning, the Storm will be operating without Alysha Clark, who isheadedto the Washington Mystics after nine seasons in Seattle.
Sue Bird Talks Storm's WNBA Title, 'Call Your Shot' and More in B/R Exclusive
Dec 17, 2020
If anyone knows what it's like to make history, it's Sue Bird.
That's why she was such a natural choice when it came to CarMax becoming the first automotive retailer in history to partner with the WNBA. The Seattle Storm point guard will be featured in its "Call Your Shot" series that stresses the importance of shopping for cars on the buyer's terms as part of the partnership.
"First and foremost, it's super exciting," Bird told Bleacher Report when asked about working with CarMax. "The 'Call Your Shot' Campaign is something I'm looking forward to because I think you see everything. It's got humor in it, but it's also a great way to get the CarMax message out, which is really about empowerment. Empowering people to have the opportunity to shop and buy on their terms, allow flexible options—the experience is amazing. I think the word empowerment also goes hand in hand with the women of the WNBA so, like I said, for me it's really exciting."
Basketball fans will recognize the campaign from past commercials featuring NBA players such as Chris Bosh, Zach LaVine, Seth Curry and others.
While it is all about eliminating the pressures of car shopping with no-haggle prices and the ability to buy online or at one of CarMax's 225 stores nationwide, Bird was excited about the opportunity to make history.
"It's always an honor to be the first for anything, and I think that this really shows how forward-thinking CarMax is," she said. "Being the first WNBA player and being that this is the first partnership with our league, there's nothing like making history. I'm all for it, and that's just how I look at it."
Making history is exactly what Bird did inside the WNBA bubble in Bradenton, Florida, when she and the Storm took home the championship by sweeping the Las Vegas Aces in October's WNBA Finals.
It was Bird's fourth title in her 17 seasons, and she dazzled with a record 16 assists in Game 1 and a double-double of 16 points and 10 dimes in Game 2. She was the general in charge of it all for the champions and connected on timely shots, played key perimeter defense, and consistently set up Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd in perfect scoring situations.
“Assists are a two-person thing and tonight those two (Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd) played amazing.”
It was all the more impressive that she did so after missing the 2019 WNBA season because of knee surgery.
Still, Bird said winning the championship was not the most important or memorable thing of her bubble experience:
"The truth is, I think this championship will go down in history for me for so many reasons, and none of them have to do with actually winning. [Winning] was like the icing on the cake. What we were able to do and what we were able to accomplish as a league, the stances we were able to take in terms of social justice, keeping 'Say her name' at the forefront, Black Lives Matter ... we did some wonderful work in terms of the Georgia Senate race ... so there was just a lot that happened this summer that we can all be really proud of, and again, as a member of the Seattle Storm, we've got this little extra special cherry on top which comes in the form of a trophy. Which listen, I'll take anytime, but it was less about that this summer."
WNBA players wore messages such as Black Lives Matter on their jerseys and warm-ups, used their platforms in postgame press conferences to call for justice for George Floyd, Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor and so many more impacted by police brutality and systemic racism, and they kept the issues on the forefront by not playing games in the immediate aftermath of the police shooting of Blake.
Many were also vocal when it came to Georgia Sen. and Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler.
Loeffler criticized the WNBA for supporting Black Lives Matter, and many players called for the league to oust her from her role with the Dream. Many also wore shirts with the phrase "Vote Warnock" in reference to Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock, who ran against Loeffler for her seat as a Senator in November.
A January runoff will determine the race between Warnock and Loeffler, and Dream forward Elizabeth Williams told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN that it was Bird who initially thought of the idea to wear the shirts supporting the former.
There is no doubt Bird is a leader both on and off the court, which has earned her recognition from many of her peers.
The King himself, LeBron James, gave her a shoutout on Instagram after she dished out 16 assists in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson wore her jersey before an October win over the Minnesota Vikings and sat down with the WNBA star for an interview on ESPN's NFL Countdown.
"It means a lot," Bird said of the praise she has received from fellow athletes. "I think when you have any athlete of an elite level, they really can see the hard work you have put into it, and they have a different level of appreciation because they know and they have experienced it."
Recognition from athletes such as James and Wilson was also important in Bird's eyes because it helps elevate women's sports.
"I think as it kind of pertains to being a female athlete and having our male counterparts give us that praise, that does have a little bit of an extra special meaning because it helps change the conversation," she said. "I think a lot of the time for female athletes, and athletes in general in the female world, a lot of the conversation surrounding us has been in this negative light, sadly. People like to tell us to 'get back in the kitchen' and all kinds of lovely jokes, so to have the Russell Wilsons and the LeBron Jameses just acknowledge us, it just helps change that conversation, which long term has major effects for us."
It is no wonder so many have appreciated her greatness.
After all, she is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, a two-time collegiate champion at Connecticut who won the Naismith Player of the Year before she was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2002 WNBA draft, an 11-time All-Star and a four-time champion.
The question now is what is next for someone who has accomplished it all on the court.
"That's the plan," she said when asked if she is coming back in 2021 to help the Storm defend their crown. "I've been joking for the last four years that I am on these one-year plans, so I think I am signed up for another. I don't know, call me crazy, but I'm going to try and do it."
She also said she wants to win another gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics but knows how much work maintaining excellence requires.
"I know that all of those goals fall on me taking care of myself, taking care of my body and trying to put myself in a position to play on an elite level, and that's where you have those lofty goals, but then you gotta bring it back to the day-to-day work," she said. "It's cliche, but I really am just trying to control what I can. But on top of that, continuing all the work we did this summer and not taking our foot off the gas either. A lot to look forward to in 2021."
It seems as if making history with CarMax will be part of a busy year for the legendary Bird.
Sue Bird Shows Support for Megan Rapinoe After Comments on Women's Soccer, WNBA
Oct 17, 2020
Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, right, poses for a photo with girlfriend Megan Rapinoe after the Storm won basketball's WNBA Championship Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird backed comments made by her girlfriend, United States women's soccer captain Megan Rapinoe, regarding her belief as to why women's soccer receives more public support and adoration than women's basketball, per ESPN's Mechelle Voepel.
Rapinoe wrote the following in an Oct. 5 Players' Tribune piece:
"This country has a deep history of racism, and a deep history of homophobia.
"And if you look at the players in the W: Most of them are Black, and a lot of them are gay.
"I just think that needs to be said, loud and clear, so there's no mistaking things. Because, again: I'm so proud of the run that we went on last year at the World Cup—and so damn grateful for the support that we got. And in a lot of ways, I'm OVER THE MOON about how it was seen as this 'breakthrough' moment. But I think the conversation around what our team represented tended to be somewhat incomplete.
"And what I mean by that is: When it comes to U.S. women's soccer, the general perception is that—let's face it—we're the white girls next door. The straight, 'cute,' 'unthreatening,' 'suburban' white girls next door. It's not actually who we are—the WNT's racial diversity, though not yet where it needs to be, is improving every year. And, you know, breaking news..... I'm gay. But by and large, that's the perception. And it's certainly how we're marketed to a lot of people."
Regarding those comments, Bird said the following in part to Don Riddell of CNN's World Sport, per Voepel.
"It's 70-80 percent Black women, a lot of gay women. We're tall; we're big. And I think there's just maybe this intimidation factor with that. People are quick to talk about it, judge it, put it down. And soccer, you just don't see that just based on how they look."
Bird rejected the notion that marketing was an issue causing the problem.
"The problem is not the marketing, per se. The problem is how society and how the outside world is willing to accept the cute girl next door, but not willing to accept, or embrace, or not judge these basketball players who are tall, Black, gay."
The women's World Cup typically captures the nation's attention in a way that women's hoops has not despite the latter sport's incredible success on the international stage and the high quality of play in today's WNBA.
Per Sports Media Watch, the USWNT vs. Netherlands 2019 Women's World Cup Final averaged 16.9 million viewers, and that was down from four years ago, when USWNT vs. Japan averaged 26.7 million viewers.
In 2016, NBC's full telecast window featuring the Olympic women's gold-medal basketball game between Team USA and France averaged 7.3 million viewers, per Sports Media Watch. Four years earlier, the gold-medal matchup between Team USA and Croatia garnered 11.4 million viewers, per Sports Business Daily.
The WNBA's popularity is seemingly growing if television audiences are any indication, however: Finals ratings were up 15 percent year over year, per ESPN, and Game 3 of this year's WNBA Finals was up 34 percent over last year.
Still, the two sports have far different levels of popularity on a mainstream level, and Bird and Rapinoe provided astute and salient theories as to why that is.
Bird, now a four-time WNBA champion after her Storm swept the Las Vegas Aces in three games, has made 11 WNBA All-Star Games and been named to eight All-WNBA teams. The ex-UConn star also won two NCAA titles and four Olympic gold medals.
Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup winner who plays for the NWSL's OL Reign, won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards following the USWNT's undefeated and untied run in the 2019 World Cup.
Storm's Breanna Stewart Wins 2020 WNBA Finals MVP After 26-Point Game 3
Oct 6, 2020
Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart (30) looks to pass the ball during the second half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Stewart poured in 26 points in Tuesday's 92-59 victory over the Aces, which helped the Storm complete their three-game sweep in Bradenton, Florida, and win the championship. She was named the 2020 WNBA Finals MVP as a result of her efforts, further cementing her place as a generational superstar.
Stewart dominated the series from the start with a double-double of 37 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in Game 1. She followed with 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals and one block in Game 2.
It was far from a solo effort, though, as Alysha Clark, Jewell Loyd and Natasha Howard provided secondary scoring, while Sue Bird facilitated the offense as the point guard and provided veteran leadership.
Less than a year and a half after tearing her Achilles, Breanna Stewart came back with a vengeance to win her second WNBA Finals MVP 🏆
The balanced roster, as well as the star power of Stewart, helped the Storm steamroll their way through the playoffs.
They swept the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals before the sweep of Las Vegas, winning all but one of those six games by double digits.
It is also a testament to Stewart's greatness that she was able to thrive on the league's biggest stage and take home the WNBA Finals MVP after missing the entire 2019 campaign with injury. The two-time All-Star was the league MVP in 2018 and added to her illustrious resume Tuesday.
Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm Win WNBA Title in Game 3 vs. A'ja Wilson, Aces
Oct 6, 2020
Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart (30) looks to pass the ball during the second half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
For the second time in three years, the Seattle Storm are the WNBA champions.
In a 92-59 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, Seattle easily clinched the fourth title in franchise history. As she has in each of the three Finals games, forward Breanna Stewart led the way in scoring, this time posting 26 points and four rebounds to push her team to a sweep of the Aces. In doing so, she set a league record by adding more than 20 points in six consecutive WNBA Finals games.
After the second-seeded Storm dropped both regular-season contests with the No. 1 Aces and Stewart finished second to Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson in MVP voting, their fourth league title is a testament to the thought process that defines the program.
"The best version of this team is in the playoffs and now in the Finals," Storm head coach Dan Hughes said in a video posted to the league's Twitter account. "We're a team and an organization that appreciates winning the day-to-day with our culture until we find ourselves on the doorstep of more championships."
breanna stewart is 26 jewell loyd is 27 jordin canada is 25 ezi magbegor is 21 sue bird does not give af what her age is
scary thing: this seattle storm team is just getting started
After the Storm allowed Vegas to take an 11-2 lead to open the game, they managed to rally back to a nine-point lead at halftime, 43-34. Their offense returned to post a game-high 32 points in the third quarter, but their defense had even more of an impact in the victory.
Seattle allowed 21 points in the first quarter and just 27 in the second and third quarters combined. Wilson, who had 14 points and four rebounds in the first half, was limited to just four points and two rebounds in the third quarter.
Wilson had posted strong performances in each of Vegas' first two outings in this series and was the best player on the court for much of Tuesday. But there's only so much the league MVP can do without help in an effort to rally her team back from a series deficit that no team in WNBA Finals history has overcome.
Aja Wilson is playing her butt off but Vegas can’t guard Seattle.
She posted 12 points in the opening six minutes but was shut down by Seattle's defense after.
The Aces' second-leading scorer, Kayla McBride, had just half of that as Vegas failed to hold on to an early 11-2 lead. She ended the night as Vegas' leading scorer with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, but she was one of just two Aces players to post double-digit scoring. Jackie Young added 11 points off the bench, and Carolyn Swords tallied 10 rebounds for Vegas.
Storm HC Dan Hughes Will Miss 2020 WNBA Season Because of COVID-19 Concerns
Jun 29, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 14: Head Coach Dan Hughes of the Seattle Storm looks on during the game against the Washington Mystics on August 14, 2019 at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Seattle Stormannounced head coach Dan Hughes will miss the 2020 WNBA season, which is set to tip off next month in Bradenton, Florida, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hughes was absent for the start of the 2019 season as well after being diagnosed with cancer in April 2019. The team said the 65-year-old underwent a medical assessment, which indicated he's potentially "at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19," leading to his decision to miss the season.
With Hughes unavailable, Gary Kloppenburg will become the interim head coach, with former Storm guard Noelle Quinn promoted to the role of associate head coach.
"I am saddened that I won't be able to travel with the team as everyone knows how much love I have for this organization," Hughes said in a statement. "I am thankful to be in good health and looking forward to supporting Coach Klopp and the staff and players in any way I can this season."
The Storm are expected to be a title contender.
Seattle finished 18-16 and reached the second round of the playoffs in 2019, a respectable finish given the fact the team was without 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird.
With Stewart and Bird back healthy, the Storm opted against any significant changes. They traded Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis to the Connecticut Sun, acquired Morgan Tuck in a sign-and-trade with Connecticut, and signed Epiphanny Prince. Ezi Magbegor, Seattle's 2019 first-round pick, isjoining the squadas well after staying overseas last season.
The nucleus of the Storm's 2018 title-winning roster remains, though it's fair to wonder how good the 39-year-old Bird and Stewart, who has seen limited action since rupturing her achilles, can be relative to their 2018 selves. Hughes' absence provides another variable, even though Kloppenburg and Quinn have plenty of familiarity with the roster.
His departure isn't the first for the WNBA as it prepares to open its 22-game slate in Florida. Kristi Toliver, Chiney Ogwumike, Natasha Cloud and Jonquel Jones are among the players have opted out.
Breanna Stewart Shows off NCAA, WNBA, Team USA Ring Collection on Instagram
May 25, 2020
United States' Breanna Stewart before a basketball game, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
The 25-year-old won four straight national championships at UConn (2013, '14, '15, '16) while simultaneously becoming the back-to-back-to-back consensus player of the year ('14, '15, '16), among several other individual honors.
The Storm made Stewart the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft. The 6'4" star was named the league's 2018 MVP, as well as the '18 Finals MVP as Seattle defeated the Washington Mystics.
Stewart has also excelled for USA Basketball with eight gold medals dating back to the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and including the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Storm were without Stewart last season due to the ruptured Achilles she suffered in the 2019 EuroLeague championship game.
"I want to be the best player in the world again," Stewart told The Athletic's Matthew Gutierrez in February 2020.
Anybody doubting her should refer to her ring collection.
WNBA All-Time Assist Leader Sue Bird, Storm Agree to New Contract
Feb 25, 2020
Seattle Storm's Sue Bird poses for a photo at the basketball team's media day Monday, May 13, 2019, in Seattle. The Storm is the defending WNBA champion. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The Seattle Storm and guard Sue Bird agreed to a new contract Tuesday, bringing the WNBA's all-time assist leader back for a 19th season.
"It's no secret how I feel about the city of Seattle and the Storm franchise. I'm a lifer and to be able to re-sign is extremely exciting," Bird said. "I'm looking forward to getting back on the court with my teammates, and playing in front of our amazing fans."
Bird missed the 2019 season due to knee surgery. She averaged 10.1 points and 7.1 assists in 2018, making her 11th All-Star appearance.
"The thing about Sue Bird is that she elevates everything she touches to a championship level," Storm CEO and general manager Alisha Valavanis said in a statement. "Whether it is leading the Storm, USA Basketball or her fearless pursuit of equality—Sue expects greatness from herself and others. This is exactly why she is an icon not just for Seattle but for the country, and we are thrilled to have her lead us again."
Bird has led the Storm to three WNBA championships, most recently in 2018. She has also played the most games(508) and minutes (16,173) in league history.
Terms of Bird's contract were not disclosed at this time.
2018 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart Re-Signs with Storm on New Contract
Feb 13, 2020
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 4: Breanna Stewart #30 of the Seattle Storm warms up before the game against the Phoenix Mercury during Game Five of the 2018 WNBA Playoffs on September 4, 2018 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joshua Huston/NBAE via Getty Images)
Breanna Stewart won't be hitting free agency in 2021 after the 2018 WNBA MVP signed an extension with the Seattle Storm.
"Stewie is a special player, a competitor at the most elite level and that was evident, once again, as she worked relentlessly to return to the court," general manager Alisha Valavanis said in the team's press release. "The Storm franchise, the fans and the entire city are excited for Stewie’s return this season."
According to High Post Hoops'Howard Megdal, Stewart signed for two years at $185,000 annually. Much like for marquee stars in the NBA, taking a shorter deal will maximize her flexibility, both in terms of her next move and the team's spending power.
The two-time All-Star missed the 2019 season after suffering anAchilles rupturein the EuroLeague championship game. She returned to the court in Team USA's 79-64 exhibition victory over Connecticut on Jan. 27.
Stewart averaged 21.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 2018. She was alsoeighthin three-point percentage (41.5), highlighting how deadly she was on the offensive end of the floor.
Stewart's future in Seattle wasn't in much doubt. The Storm were WNBA champions in 2018 and carry title ambitions in 2020 with both Stewart and Sue Bird coming back from injuries. The 25-year-old would've been a restricted free agent in 2021 as well, allowing Seattle to match any offer she received from another team.
Sorting out her contract now will help Valavanis get an early picture of the Storm's cap space for next offseason, when the team will likely have to make some difficult decisions. Bird, Alysha Clark, Natasha Howard, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Sami Whitcomb will be out of contract. Then, a year later, Jewell Loyd is coming off the books.
Even if the 39-year-old Bird retires, retaining all of those players is probably impossible.
Valavanis at least took care of her top priority by getting Stewart to sign on the bottom line.
Storm's Sue Bird Ruled Out for 2019 Season Amid Knee Surgery Recovery
"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, whoruptured her Achillesin 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.
