WNBA Bio: Sue Bird
It was a few years back, during Sue Bird’s playing days at the University of Connecticutt that I became enamored – like almost every women’s basketball fan in the country – with the intelligent, gritty – and attractive – point guard.
Bird was the starting point guard for the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team from 1998 to 2002, and led the Huskies to NCAA championships in 2000 and 2002. At the conclusion of her college career, Bird was named the Naismith Award winner and College Player of the Year in 2002.
Following her graduation, Bird was the first overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft selected by the Seattle Storm and was also the first point guard to be picked first in the league’s history. In her rookie season, she led the Storm to their first playoff appearance, and was also named a starter to the WNBA Western Conference All-Star team. Bird was also a member of the All-WNBA First team at the conclusion of the 2002 season.
In the 2003 season, Bird suffered a minor knee injury that kept nagging her the entire season, but she still managed to lead the team in assists (6.5 per game), steals (1.4 per game), and three-point shots (49 total). She was once again named as a starter to the All-Star Team and was named to the All-WNBA First Team for the second time. The Seattle Storm, however did not make the playoffs.
The Storm had a strong 2004 season that led them to the playoffs where Bird averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 assists and overcame a broken nose in the conference finals series to help the Storm win their first ever WNBA Championship.
Bird is one of six women to receive a Gold Medal, NCAA championship, and a WNBA Championship. The others are Ruth Riley, Sheryl Swoopes, and fellow Huskies Swin Cash, Rebecca Lobo, and Kara Wolters.
Last season, Bird earned another All-Star selection and was also selected All-WNBA First Team again after averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 assists per game. This season, Bird is once again up to her old tricks although her numbers are slightly down from her career averages.
Bird has clearly established herself as, not only one of the finest players in the WNBA, but on the entire planet.
