SEATTLE (AP) — For more than two hours, Sue Bird has been back driving midfield.
At times funny, at times emotional, Bird’s 21-year career received a celebration matching the longevity of her basketball exploits when the Seattle Storm retired the 10th number she wore during her WNBA career on Sunday.
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The event took nearly three hours in total length with Baird’s speech taking over half that number. But that was a blanket shutout that never materialized after Byrd’s run ended in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs.
“I didn’t expect it to be that long,” Baird said afterwards, “but the truth is, I didn’t know I could have pulled anything off.” “That’s what that means to me. It was very important for me to say the names and to point to people and tell them what they meant.”
From Byrd’s fiancé Megan Rapinoe and hip-hop star Macklemore serving as manager, to former bandmates Swen Cash and Lorraine Jackson giving their heartfelt speeches, the event was Seattle’s chance to embrace Byrd again.
And for Bird to share her thanks to the former coaches, teammates, family, friends and fans who have watched her win four NBA titles, five Olympic gold medals and become the standard by which all other point guards are judged.
“That’s what made all of this so great. To feel so comfortable and safe here, whether it’s with the ball in my hand on the ground, or I’m in the community, I can always be my ever-evolving self,” Bird said closing. “As I said, Seattle wasn’t always home, but that’s exactly what it has become.”
Bird’s number was the second to be retired by the franchise, joining Jackson’s No. 15 hanging in the rafters at Climate Pledge Arena. It was a weekend of celebration that began with the Flying of the Birds’ No. 10 tribute flag to the top of the Space Needle in the rain Thursday and ended with Bird back on the field as general manager once again.
The ceremony was scheduled to last about 45 minutes and took approximately four turns. Bird spoke for the final 90 minutes, and while some of the crowd was thin showing in Washington’s 71-65 win over Seattle leading up to the ceremony, most of the building was still full of seats by the time Bird finished.
“It’s very rare to have those kinds of moments, so it was really special for everyone who spoke to hear what they had to say,” Beard said.
Partying was what Byrd didn’t get last season when her run ended as the Storm lost in the WNBA Semifinals to Las Vegas. Bird was honored after the final chapter of her career came to an abrupt conclusion with a playoff loss, but it wasn’t for her shutout that Sunday.
The teammates who have been weaving through the entirety of Bird’s career have featured, most notably Jackson who flew in from Australia for the weekend’s activities.
“She was an inspiration to me and everyone else,” Jackson said.
It was emotional at times, and those involved had a tearful resistance with speeches that stretched well beyond the time limit. It was also a bit of a roast, especially when Byrd got on the mic and got a chance to touch on different aspects of her life, career, and influences.
There was an interlude where Rapinoe led the crowd in a version of Tina Turner’s “The Best,” finally the No. 10 hanging over the court.
“Congratulations, for having arguably the best career anyone has ever had in the history of any sport,” Rapinoe said.
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