The Seattle Storm announced on Wednesday that the franchise will honor the former UConn women’s basketball and WNBA legend with a statue outside Climate Pledge Arena. Seattle will unveil the statue on Aug. 17 ahead of its home game against the Phoenix Mercury.
According to the Storm’s release, Bird is the first player to be honored with a statue by a WNBA franchise.
Last month, Bird was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville. In September, she’ll join basketball royalty as a 2025 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
“Sue’s legacy isn’t just written in championships — it’s woven into the fabric of Seattle,” Seattle Storm President & CEO Alisha Valavanis said in the release.”… “Today, as the first WNBA franchise to honor a player with a statue, we celebrate not just Sue’s illustrious career, but the future she helped pave for the next generation of athletes. This statue is more than a tribute. It’s a promise that what Sue stands for will keep rising, and young people, especially girls, will always see themselves in greatness.”
The Storm’s unveiling of Bird’s statue will also include remarks from Seattle city officials, Storm franchise leadership and, of course, Bird herself. Seattle’s game against the Mercury will have a “Forever Sue” theme, in which fans will receive posters of Bird and take part in a community fan fest prior to tip-off.
In August, the city of Seattle renamed a road leading to Climate Pledge Arena ‘Sue Bird Court’ in honor of its former point guard.
Bird’s statue was created by Roblatt Amrany Studio sculptor Julie Rotblatt-Amrany. Rotblatt Amrany Studio has created some of the most iconic sports statues, including A’ja Wilson’s statue at the University of South Carolina.
The former Husky spent her entire 21-season WNBA career in Seattle after being drafted No. 1 overall by the franchise in 2002. Bird, a 13-time WNBA All-Star, helped the Storm win four WNBA championships. After retiring in 2022, Bird joined the Storm’s ownership group in 2024.
“For over two decades, the city of Seattle supported me, both on and off the court. It’s because of this community that Seattle will forever hold a special place in my heart. This statue isn’t just for me, it’s for anyone out there hoping to one day pursue their passions and live out their dreams,” Bird said in the release. “I’m thankful to the Storm and Seattle for this honor, and can’t wait to celebrate with my family, friends and our amazing fans this August.”
Bird’s career kickstarted at UConn, where she helped the Huskies win two national championships and was named the 2002 Player of the Year. On the international stage, Bird earned five Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was most recently named the first managing director of the United States’ Women’s National Team.
“Sue Bird is not just one of the greatest basketball players of all time — she is a transformative figure in Seattle’s history and a symbol of what it means to lead with purpose, courage and heart,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said. “During her incredible 21-season career with the Seattle Storm, she set the bar for excellence and elevated the visibility and impact of women in professional sports across the country. This new statue outside Climate Pledge Arena is a fitting honor for a Seattle champion and icon who has helped shape the identity of our city.”
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