Storm announce Sue Bird statue, making franchise legend the first WNBA player to receive that honor

Sue Bird's legacy with the Seattle Storm is unparalleled, embodying the franchise after being selected first overall in the 2002 WNBA Draft. She spent her entire 21-year career with the Storm, achieving 13 All-Star selections, eight All-WNBA honors, and four championships.

The Seattle Storm announced they will permanently honor Bird by unveiling a statue in her honor outside Climate Pledge Arena on August 17. This marks the first time a WNBA franchise has dedicated a statue to a former player.

Storm President & CEO Alisha Valavanis emphasized that Bird's impact extends beyond basketball, stating her leadership "transcended basketball and helped shape a cultural shift." Valavanis described the statue as "a promise that what Sue stands for will keep rising," ensuring young people "will always see themselves in greatness."

The statue was created by Roblatt Amrany Studio, known for other Seattle statues including Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr., and A'ja Wilson's statue at the University of South Carolina. Bird, recognized as a franchise icon and one of the WNBA's greatest players, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025 following her 2022 retirement.