Three short words on the Instagram account of Sue bird on Friday they answered one of the biggest questions of the 2022 offseason from the WNBA: Would the legendary Seattle Storm star return for a 19th season in the WNBA at 41 years old?
On Friday morning, Bird posted a video of fans chanting, “One more year” during his interview with ESPN after last season’s playoff loss to Phoenix Mercury. Bird’s caption: “Good. Vamooooos.”
In September, Bird was evasive about her future in the WNBA for the first time. Though retirement has been an issue with Bird for years, never before has the historic league leader in assists been uncertain whether she would continue to play if she was physically able to do so.
“I’ve actually been trying to push those thoughts away,” Bird told reporters after the game. “The minute I even allow myself to think about it, it makes me want to cry. This is the first offseason that I feel like I have to weigh it. I usually say, ‘No, another year if I feel good, I’ll be there.’
“This is the first time where I will really have to sit down, see how I feel, consider some things. I know for sure I want the excitement of the season to subside. I don’t want to make an emotional decision.”
Bird admitted to having a desire to complete his career at the Climate Pledge Arena, the Storm’s new home in Seattle after a complete renovation of the KeyArena, where the team played through 2018. While renovations were being completed, the Storm played last season. at Angel of the Winds Arena in the nearby town of Everett.
In October, Bird was a special guest when NHL expansion team Seattle Kraken played its inaugural game at the Climate Pledge Arena. Two days later, Bird referenced that experience as part of her decision-making process when she appeared on ManningCast of ESPN during a Seattle Seahawks Monday Night Football game.
“We just opened a new arena here in Seattle,” Bird said, “and I happened to be there for the start of the Kraken game. And … it was tempting. The thoughts of playing there were very seductive. I’ll leave you with that.”
The team’s return to Uptown Seattle brings Bird’s career back to where it began. She played her first WNBA meeting at KeyArena as the Storm’s first overall pick in the 2002 draw. Bird has helped the franchise win four championships, most recently during the 2020 bubble or “Wubble” season in Bradenton, Florida, as well as the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup last year.
At age 40, Bird remained one of the WNBA’s top point guards in 2021, making his 12th All-Star appearance, a record, and averaging 10.0 points and 5.3 assists while playing in 30 of Seattle’s 32 games. during the regular season. She also guided the United States women’s national team to gold at the Tokyo Olympics, a fifth gold medal in basketball that set a record for herself and her teammate, Diana Taurasi.
Although the Storm participated in Friday’s announcement on social media, Bird is technically an unrestricted free agent. Teams and players cannot begin negotiating new contracts until January 15, and those contracts cannot be officially signed until January 1. February.
The also All-Stars from Seattle, Jewell loyd Y Breanna Stewart, they will also be unrestricted free agents unless the team chooses to use the nuclear designation on one of them. Bird is ineligible for a nuclear designation because she has already been a nuclear player a maximum of two times.
.
We wish to thank the writer of this article for this awesome web content
WNBA: Sue Bird returns for 19th. season