Back in the late 1990s, when Sue Bird was rising as a high school basketball star, Geno Auriemma recalls her being notably nervous during recruitment at the University of Washington (UW). At that time, the UW women’s basketball program wasn’t as renowned as it is now, and Auriemma and his staff felt the pressure to secure a player of Bird’s talent, even though she seemed uncomfortable with the attention.
Throughout her career, Bird adapted to the spotlight, especially in the past year as she prepared to retire after 20 seasons with the Seattle Storm in 2022. Honoring her legendary career, a statue of Bird became the first to be installed at a WNBA arena in August. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September. Her jersey No. 10 will be retired Sunday at UW’s Gampel Pavilion before a game against DePaul, marking the culmination of her recognition tour.
During her time at UW, Bird led the Huskies to NCAA Championships in 2000 and 2002, won four Big East Tournament titles, and was thrice awarded the Nancy Lieberman Award as the nation’s top point guard. She holds NCAA records for three-point field goal (45.9%) and free throw percentage (89.2%). She was the first WNBA draft pick from UW and retired as the league’s all-time assist leader with 3,234 assists, earning 13 All-Star selections and leading Seattle to four WNBA championships.
Bird joins a prestigious group with her jersey retirement, alongside Rebecca Lobo and Swin Cash, with Maya Moore expected to follow soon. The ceremony will be broadcast on various social media channels about 30 minutes before the Huskies game.
In addition to Bird’s return, UW welcomed alumni Paige Bueckers and Aliyah Edwards back to campus. These former teammates, now professionals in the WNBA, contribute to the team’s practice sessions, enhancing the current squad’s atmosphere and competitiveness.
Auriemma expressed enthusiasm about the presence of former players, highlighting how their return energizes the program and preserves its legacy. “It’s great to see how much they’ve changed and yet stayed true to themselves,” he said.
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Fan Take: Sue Bird’s illustrious career and jersey retirement highlight the profound impact she has had on the sport, inspiring both current and future generations. For WNBA fans, this celebration underscores the league’s growing legacy and the increasing recognition of women’s basketball as a major force in sports.
