Sue Bird receives MASSIVE ovation as WNBA legend has her No. 10 jersey retired by the Seattle Storm
- Bird was accompanied by her fiancé, American women’s soccer legend Megan Rapinoe
- She is now only the second member of the Seattle Storm to have her jersey retired
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WNBA and UConn legend Sue Bird was once again the center of attention as she graced the Seattle Storm’s home field as the team the No. 10 shut down jersey she wore throughout her career on Sunday.
The event lasted nearly three hours in total, with Bird’s speech taking up more than half that amount. But it was the all-encompassing close that never materialized after Bird’s career ended in the 2022 WNBA playoffs.
“I didn’t expect it to take this long, but the truth is I don’t know if I could have gotten anything out of it,” Bird said afterwards.
“That’s what this has meant to me. It was just so important to me to name names and point people out and tell them what they meant.’
From Bird’s fiancé Megan Rapinoe and hip-hop star Macklemore serving as emcees, to former teammates Swin Cash and Lauren Jackson giving heartfelt speeches, the event was Seattle’s chance to embrace Bird once again.
WNBA legend Sue Bird had her jersey retired by the Seattle Storm on Sunday afternoon
Bird’s No. 10 jersey was hoisted into the rafters at the Climate Pledge Arena for a game against Wash.
And for Bird to thank her for former coaches, teammates, family, friends and fans who have watched her win four WNBA titles and five Olympic gold medals and become the standard by which all other point guards are judged.
“That’s what made this all so great. To feel seen and safe here, whether it was with the ball in my hands on the ground, or me out in the community, I could always be my ever-evolving self,” Bird said near the end of her speech. “Like I said, Seattle wasn’t always my home, but it has become.”
Bird’s number was the second number eliminated by the franchise, joining Jackson’s number 15 hanging in the rafters of Climate Pledge Arena.
It was a weekend of celebration that began with a flag honoring Bird’s No. 10 being raised to the top of the Space Needle in the rain on Thursday and ending with Bird back on the field again serving as floor general.
The ceremony was scheduled to last about 45 minutes and lasted almost four times as long.
Bird spoke for the final 90 minutes, and while some of the crowd that showed up for Washington’s 71–65 pre-ceremony win over Seattle thinned out, most of the seats were still occupied by the time Bird finished.
“That’s very rare that you have moments like this, so it was really special for everyone who spoke to hear what they had to say,” said Bird.
The ceremony was what Bird didn’t get last season as her career ended when the Storm lost in the WNBA semifinals to Las Vegas. Bird was honored after that final chapter of her career came to an abrupt end with the playoff loss, but it didn’t have the closure that Sunday’s event brought.
Teammates who have been weaving throughout Bird’s career showed up, most notably Jackson who had flown in from Australia for the weekend activities.
Bird was accompanied by American women’s soccer legend Megan Rapinoe’s fiancée to the ceremony
She was also pictured with Seattle-born and award-winning hip-hop artist Macklemore
“She’s been nothing short of an inspiration to me and everyone else,” Jackson said.
It was emotional at times and left those involved holding back tears with speeches that went well beyond the allotted time. It was also partly a roast, especially when Bird got the mic and got a chance to discuss the different aspects of her life, career and influences.
There was an interlude where Rapinoe led the crowd in a version of Tina Turner’s “The Best,” and finally the number 10 hovering over the track.
“Congratulations on perhaps the best career anyone has had in the history of any sport. Ever,” Rapinoe said.