Sue Bird is a professional basketball player for the United States. She was taken first overall in the 2002 WNBA draft, and she is now considered one of the greatest players in the league’s history.
As of the year 2021, Bird is the only WNBA player to have championships in three different decades. She worked for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association as a Basketball Operations Associate in the front office. She has also represented three Russian teams.
Furthermore, she has five EuroLeague titles to her name. Bird was recognized as a top-20 NBA all-time performer. Four Olympic gold medals, two NCAA Championships, and four FIBA World Cups have been awarded to her teams while she has been a member of them. Only eleven other women have ever held the position.
Sue Bird Net Worth
As of 2023, according to sources, Sue Bird’s net worth is expected to be $8 million. Bird’s career in basketball spans over two decades, during which time she has received numerous accolades. Known for her defensive skills and excellent play on the court, Bird has achieved multiple championships and titles with various teams.
Sue Bird Early Life and Childhood
Herschel and Nancy Bird’s daughter, Suzanne Brigit Bird, was born on October 16th, 1980, in Syosset, New York. She was born in Israel to a Jewish father from Russia. Bird’s older sister is a competitive athlete, and the two of them have shared a lifelong passion for field sports.
She was multi-talented, participating in basketball, soccer, tennis, and track. In sixth grade, Bird made his way onto the AAU basketball scene. At the age of 11, a security guard who had seen her play basketball for St. John’s approached her and asked for her autograph.
Bird attended Syosset High School and later transferred to Christ the King Regional High School, where she played on the state championship team in New York. She won awards for best player in New York State and the New York Daily News.
Sue Bird Career Success
Sue Bird joined the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 2002, getting picked by the Seattle Storm team. In her first year, she played every game and scored an average of 14.4 points in each game. She was also chosen for the All-Star team and was almost the Rookie of the Year. Bird achieved a big milestone by winning an Olympic Gold Medal, a college championship, and a WNBA Championship, especially with her team’s win in 2004.
Unfortunately, she hurt her knee in 2012 and couldn’t play for the whole 2013 season. She also played basketball in Russia for teams like Spartak Moscow Region and UMMC Ekaterinburg. With these teams, she won important Russian and European championships between 2006 and 2014. Bird was part of the USA Basketball national team that won gold at the 2000 Jones Cup in Taipei.
She played in the World Championships in China in 2002, the 2004 Olympics in Greece, and the 2008 Olympics in China, winning gold medals. She was also chosen to play in a special WNBA vs. USA Basketball game in 2010. She continued to represent the USA in various international basketball tournaments up until 2018. In 2016, Bird agreed to continue playing with the Seattle Storm. That year, she was recognized as one of the league’s best players for the fifth time.
After recovering from knee surgery, Bird returned in 2017 as the oldest active player in the WNBA and even played in the All-Star Game. In 2018, she set a record for the most All-Star game appearances and played her 500th WNBA game, the most in the league’s history. Bird was also named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history. She had to miss the 2019 season due to another knee surgery.
In 2020, she came back to play for the Storm. However, the season was cut short to 22 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Bird signed a deal to play her 18th season with the Storm. That year, she was honored as one of the 25 greatest players in WNBA history.
Take a look at given tweet:
.@S10Bird taking it ALL IN 🧡
In a sold out arena, Sue Bird is honored before her final regular season home game in Seattle 💐#MoreThan pic.twitter.com/tGCuWHwBqV
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 7, 2022
Sue Bird Endorsement Deals
Sue Bird’s career in basketball and the several commercial deals she has signed in connection with the sport are likely the primary sources of her wealth.
In reality, Bird has earned $1.5 million from endorsement deals. Nike, American Express, and Symetra are all part of the WNBA star’s endorsement deal.
Bird has been sponsored by Nike for the majority of her WNBA career, but she has recently ramped up her brand promotion, notably in collaboration with Mendi and Glossier.
Sue Bird Retirement
Sue Bird said goodbye to her basketball career in September 2022, ending an amazing 20 years of playing. Even though her team didn’t win in the playoffs, fans cheered loudly and thanked her.
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe ready for Bird’s jersey retirement:
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe ready for Bird’s jersey retirement 🔥
(via @seattlestorm) pic.twitter.com/aZqAM9LEbO
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 11, 2023
She is the only player in the WNBA who played 500 games. Bird won four WNBA championships, was in 12 All-Star games more than anyone else, and won five Olympic gold medals in a row with the U.S. team.
Bird’s retirement is a big deal because it marks the end of an important time in basketball. She will always be remembered for her great achievements and for inspiring many young players, both through her playing and her actions off the court.
Listed below are our prior articles discussing the wealth of certain celebrities:
- Jordin Sparks Net Worth: From American Idol to Multimillionaire!
- Ken Jennings Net Worth: A Breakdown Of His Complete Assets And Wealth!
Is Sue Bird Dating Someone?
On July 20, 2017, Bird announced to the world that she is a lesbian and that she has been seeing fellow athlete Megan Rapinoe since the two first met at the 2016 Rio Olympics. When she and Rapinoe appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s “Body Issue” in 2018, they made history as the first same-s*x pair to do so. On October 30, 2020, they made their engagement public.
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The ESPY Awards in 2020 were co-hosted by Bird and Rapinoe, the first openly gay couple to do so. The Queer 50 list for 2022 includes her.
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