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Chicago 2016

Sue Bird

  • Home: Syosset, NY
  • Birthdate: 10/16/1980

Position: Guard 
Height: 5-9 / 176 cm
Weight: 150 lbs. / 68 kg
Born: Oct. 16, 1980 in Syosset, N.Y.
WNBA: Seattle Storm  
College: University of Connecticut ‘02

USA Basketball Notes:
Gold Medals: 2007 FIBA Americas Championship (Olympic qualifier), 2004 & 2008 Olympic Games, 2002 World Championship, 2002 Opals World Challenge, 2000 R. William Jones Cup.
Silver Medal: 2007 FIBA World League Tournament.
Bronze Medal:  2006 FIBA World Championship.

  • Named to the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team on May 31, 2008.
  • Is one of only seven players to have earned an NCAA title, WNBA championship and Olympic gold medal (Swin Cash, Cynthia Cooper, Ruth Riley, Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi and Kara Wolters).
  • Started all eight games of the USA's 2007 College Tour, averaged 9.0 ppg., 2.3 rpg. and 2.9 apg.
  • Aided the 2007 USA Select Team to a 3-2 record and the silver medal at the 2007 FIBA World League Tournament in Ekaterinburg, Russia, averaged 7.2 ppg. and 3.0 apg. and collected the award for the tournament's best guard.
  • Member of the 2007 USA FIBA Americas Championship Team that competed in Valdivia, Chile, posted an unblemished 5-0 slate, captured the gold medal and qualified the United States for the 2008 Olympic Games; started all five games and averaged 5.6 ppg., 3.8 rpg. and 4.0 apg.
  • Prior to the FIBA Americas Championship, aided the USA to a pair of victories against the Australia National Team, averaged 9.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 3.0 apg.
  • Named to the 2007-08 USA Basketball Women's National Team on March 6, 2007.
  • Attended part of the USA's 2007 Tour of Italy training camp, but was unable to compete due to her team's EuroLeague schedule.
  • Member of the 2006 USA World Championship Team that posted an 8-1 record and took home the bronze medal; averaged 7.7 ppg. and finished as the tournament assist leader (4.6 apg.).
  • Aided the U.S. to a 56-49 exhibition victory over eventual World Championship gold medalist Australia.
  • Member of the 2006 USA Basketball Senior National Team for the USA's March 2-9 European Tour; started two games and averaged 5.0 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 2.0 spg.
  • Member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team that rolled up an 8-0 record en route to winning the gold medal in Athens.
  • Was on hand as the USA compiled a 16-0 exhibition record during the USA's Olympic preparations, averaged 4.4 ppg. and 3.7 apg. in the 13-game spring tour and 6.0 ppg. and 1.7 apg. in the USA's three pre-Olympic games.
  • Helped the 2002 USA World Championship Team capture gold in China with an unblemished 9-0 record.
  • Aided the U.S. to a 4-0 slate and the 2002 Australia-hosted Opal World Challenge title prior to the Worlds.
  • Playing back-up to international veteran Dawn Staley and eventual ‘02 All-Worlds selection Shannon Johnson, averaged 3.3 ppg. in Australia and upped that to 4.3 ppg. at the ‘02 Worlds.
  • Member of the 2000 USA R. William Jones Cup Team that posted a perfect 4-0 record in Taipei, Taiwan, and earned the gold medal; started all four games and passed off for a team high 4.3 apg. and added 2.0 ppg. and 2.5 rpg.
  • Returned less than two months later as a member of the 2000 USA Basketball Select Team that competed against the eventual gold medal winning 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in an exhibition contest in Hawaii.

Professional Notes:
Drafted: No. 1 in 2002 by the Seattle Storm.
WNBA Title:  2004
All-WNBA first team: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
WNBA All-Star Games: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 (injured)
WNBA All-Decade Team
EuroLeague Title: 2007, 2008

  • Returned to Spartak Moscow Region to play during the 2007-08 season alongside USA teammates Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson. Aided Spartak to a 15-1 EuroLeague record and the team's second straight title, averaged a EuroLeague third-best 4.6 apg., while adding 9.1 ppg. and 3.9 rpg. Her squad is also in the running for the 2008 Russia Superleague crown.
  • Aided the Storm in 2007 to a 17-17 record and the Western Conference playoffs.
  • Capped the 2007 season ranked third in the league for assists (4.9 apg.).
  • After returning from Athens, helped lead the Storm finish the season with a 20-12 slate and the 2004 WNBA crown.
  • Helped her 2002 team to its then-best record and first playoff berth in franchise history as Seattle finished in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 17-15 record.
  • Was the second leading vote getter for the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year honor.
  • Competed for Moscow Spartak in 2006-07, averaged
  • 4.1 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 2.1 apg. in aiding Spartak to the 2007 EuroLeague and Russian League titles.
  • Also spent the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons competing in Russia for Moscow Dynamo, where she helped her team to the 2005 and 2006 EuroLeague quarterfinals.

Collegiate Notes:

  • During her four years (1999-02) at Connecticut, the Huskies posted 136-9 record (93.8 winning percentage), won a pair of NCAA crowns (2000, 2002) while advancing to four NCAA Tournaments, including the 2001 Final Four, and earned four Big East regular season and tournament titles.
  • Named the 2002 Naismith Player of the Year and 2002 Wade Trophy recipient, named 2002 Player of the Year by the Associated Press (A.P.) and U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and also was presented with the first annual Senior C.L.A.S.S. award in 2002, which is bestowed upon the nation's top senior basketball player.
  • Earned the 2002 Honda Award as the Women's College Basketball Player of the Year and collected the 2002 ESPY as the top Female College Athlete of the Year.
  • Earned 2000 and 2002 All-Final Four honors, named the 2002 NCAA Mideast Region Most Outstanding Player and to the 2000 NCAA All-East Regional squad.
  • The 2002 Big East Player of the Year; 2002 and 2001 All-Big East first team; 2000 All-Big East second team; 2002 Big East All-Tournament.

Personal Notes:

  • Hails from Syosset, New York.
  • Daughter of Nancy and Herschel Bird; has one sister, Jennifer.
  • Wears No. 10 because she and her sister were both born in the 10th month of the year.
  • Attended Christ The King H.S. (N.Y.), where she was the MVP of the 1998 New York state tournament, and also led her squad to a 27-0 record and the USA Today national crown.
  • Named a 1998 Parade Magazine All-America first team and a USA Today All-USA second team.
  • A multi-sport athlete and National Honor Society member in high school, earned varsity letters twice in soccer and once in track.
  • In 2003 was voted by Seattle sports fans to replace SuperSonics and 2000 U.S. Olympic Team guard Gary Payton's billboard at the entrance of Seattle's Nike Town. She not only beat out Sonics guard and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Ray Allen, the runner-up, but also Payton, Lance Armstrong, Mia Hamm and Marion Jones.
  • Earned her degree in communication science.
  • Spent part of the 2003-04 off-season helping to coach a team comprised of eighth-graders in a Bay Area youth league.
  • During her seasons in Russia, has learned some Russian phrases and knows her way around Moscow's top sushi restaurants.