Sue Bird, who was the point guard on two national championship teams at UConn and the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2002, announced Thursday this will be her last season playing in the WNBA
Bird's announcement ended any speculation about her future, though she acknowledged in February when she re-signed with Seattle that this would likely be her final season. She strongly considered retirement after last season before choosing to return for a 19th season as a player.
“I’ve been doing this since I was five or six years old. It’s really all I know, so of course I’m sad. It’s a little bit of like a mourning knowing I’m going to miss it," Bird said at a press conference in Connecticut Thursday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena. "I have no regrets. I feel wonderful about my career, the people I’ve met and the things we’ve all accomplished.”
I’ve decided this will be my final year. I have loved every single minute, and still do, so gonna play my last year, just like this little girl played her first ☺️ #TheFinalYear @seattlestorm pic.twitter.com/Uo2YqCCKUD
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) June 16, 2022
Bird is a four-time WNBA champion, 12-time All-Star and the oldest player in the league at 41. She has spent her entire WNBA career with Seattle since becoming the No. 1 pick in 2002 following her storied college career at Connecticut. This season is her 21st associated with the franchise although just her 19th playing after missing two seasons due to injuries. She’s the league’s all-time leader in assists and the standard by which other point guards are judged.
Bird’s announcement came with her team in Connecticut to play the Sun on Friday. The Storm will close out their road trip on Sunday in New York, about 30 miles from where Bird grew up in Syosset, New York.
Connecticut Public's Frankie Graziano and the Associated Press contributed to this report
