Sue Bird becomes first WNBA player honored with a statue - ESPN

SEATTLE — In a ceremony before the Seattle Storm hosted the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, legendary former guard Sue Bird became the first WNBA player honored by her franchise with a statue outside of Climate Pledge Arena.

«People keep asking me what it feels like to be the first,» Bird said during her speech. «The truth is that I never set out to be the first at anything, but if being the first means I won't be the last, if this statue means that 20 years from now there will be statues of other WNBA greats — some who are in the audience and players whose names you don't even know yet — than I'm proud to be the first.»

Few players if any in league history have done more to merit recognition than Bird, who spent her entire two-decade WNBA career with the Storm, playing the bulk of it at KeyArena before the building was rebuilt and reopened as Climate Pledge Arena for Bird's final campaign in 2022.

Over that span, Bird led Seattle to four WNBA championships, tying the most by any franchise. She also retired as the league's all-time leader in games and minutes played as well as assists, making a record 13 All-Star appearances. Yet as other speakers (including three-time MVP and longtime teammate Lauren Jackson) highlighted, Bird's career can't be reduced to stats or titles alone.

«We can have that basketball conversation,» said Hall of Famer Swin Cash, who teamed with Bird both to win two national titles at UConn and the 2010 championship with Seattle. «Greatness changes the game. Greatness evolves. Greatness stays and has longevity. And that's what Sue has.»

Certainly, nothing has longevity like a statue. And that's why for all the honors Bird has received since her career concluded, including the Storm retiring her No. 10