Sue Bird breaks down in tears on court as WNBA legend retires

The greatest athlete in the history of Seattle sports – and one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time – gracefully passed the torch to the next generation at the end of her decorated career.

Sue Bird, a 21-year veteran of the WNBA, played her final professional game last night as her Seattle Storm fell to the Las Vegas Aces 97-92 in Game 4 of the WNBA semifinals. The win earned Vegas their third WNBA finals berth in franchise history. 

Once the little girl from Syosset, New York –  who became a two-time champion with the UConn Huskies, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, and a four-time champion in Seattle – Bird retires tied with five others for most WNBA crowns in a career. That includes women’s basketball icons like Sheryl Swoopes, Seimone Augustus, and fellow UConn Husky Maya Moore.

Bird made a layup with 21.8 seconds remaining to make things a four-point game, which ended up being the final shot of her career. In the end, Seattle just couldn’t keep the Aces off the free throw line and the Storm’s season ended in front of the home crowd. 

There were tears on the court and in the stands. The finality of the situation finally hit Bird and the thousands that showed up hoping to see her career continue for at least 40 more minutes.

‘Kinda weird. Definitely surreal. I think initially… I felt sad about the season and the game. And I then think as the emotions started to come to the surface that was also what I know deep down in that was my last game,’ Bird said. 

Vegas guard Chelsea Gray was simply too good, scoring 15 of her 31 points in the fourth quarter as the Aces won the best-of-five series 3-1, all the games tense, pressure-packed and filled with spectacular shot-making. 

The Aces ended up making more, most notably Gray, who made five of six shots down the stretch and scored 12 of the final 20 points for the Aces.

‘I don’t think anyone on planet Earth can guard her,’ Seattle coach Noelle Quinn said. ‘She was unconscious.’

It will be the third Finals appearance in franchise history for Las Vegas. The Aces lost to Seattle in 2020 in the WNBA bubble played in Florida, and the franchise reached the Finals in 2008 while still in San Antonio, losing to Detroit.

‘It’s kind of like the girl that beat Serena (Williams). It’s bittersweet,’ Aces coach Becky Hammon said. ‘I know myself and our staff and team and organization have so much respect for Sue. She’s had a fairytale career, one that kids dream of. She got to live it.’

Breanna Stewart tied the WNBA playoff record with 42 points, just the fifth player to score 40 or more in a postseason game, and Jewell Loyd added 29. But Seattle failed to find a third scorer and the Aces had an answer for every charge Seattle made after Las Vegas surged in front early in the second half.

The Aces will get the spotlight in the Finals. On this night, the aftermath of the result was all about Bird and the conclusion to her two decades as a pillar to the Storm franchise and the WNBA.

Bird stayed on the court after the final buzzer, receiving hugs from the entire Aces roster. She wiped away tears while the crowd cheered and cried along with her, and chanted ‘Thank you, Sue.’

‘I also wanted to kind of have one last moment to say thank you, to soak it all in because in some ways, it is a happy thing,’ Bird said. ‘I’m proud of of everything we’ve accomplished here.’

The oldest player in the league at age 41, Bird started the year thinking she’d retire, but brought finality to the decision midway through the regular season.

Las Vegas spoiled the party in Seattle’s home regular-season finale when Bird was honored by the franchise and the league for her 21 seasons with the team and 19 as a player, missing two seasons with injury.

And it was Aces that finally eliminated Bird and the Storm after four stressful games filled with big performances.

Bird closes out her career as one of the most decorated players of all-time. In addition to the aforementioned titles and gold medals, she ends her time as the WNBA’s all-time leader in assists and games played, and recognition as one of the great players during a golden generation for the league.

Bird is also the only WNBA player to have won titles in three different decades, winning crowns in 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020. 

She’ll also take into retirement the definition of being a floor leader and ultimately a winner.

But she wasn’t able to add that record-breaking fifth title to her final resume.

‘As sad as it is that we’re we’re not having the ability to compete for a championship I think what’s more devastating… is just the fact that we’re no longer going to be on the court with Sue,’ said Stewart, a fellow Husky.

Gray was the biggest thorn for Seattle with her clutch shooting often late in the shot clock. Seattle pulled even at 67-all, only to have Gray hit a 3 as the shot clock expired.

Gray scored consecutive buckets later in the fourth to keep the Aces ahead, but her miss and Gabby Williams’ three-point play gave Seattle an 83-82 lead with 2:40 left.

That was Seattle’s last lead.

A’ja Wilson’s three-point play put the Aces back ahead 85-83 and Gray wouldn´t miss, her jumper with 30 seconds left giving the Aces a 92-87 lead. Wilson finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

‘When Chelsea is rocking and rolling my biggest thing is just getting the hell out of her way,’ Wilson said. ‘At the end of the day, you just got to get out of the way and let people rock.’