Storm Announce Sue Bird Statue Outside Climate Pledge Arena

Sue Bird (10) brings the ball down the court in the Minnesota Lynx vs Seattle Storm game at Target Center, the Storm won the game 81-72. Credit: Lorie Shaull

The most prolific player in Seattle Storm franchise history will be immortalized outside of Climate Pledge Arena at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17. The team will unveil a statue of Sue Bird outside of their home court, making her the first player in WNBA history to have a statue dedicated to them, the Storm announced.

Bird was a part of all four of the franchise’s title-winning teams from 2004 to 2020, and played a total of 19 seasons (21 total with the team) from 2002 to 2022. She earned 13 All-Star nods and was a five-time First Team All-Pro, playing her entire career with the Storm. Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional athletes in Seattle history across all major sports leagues.

“Sue’s legacy isn’t just written in championships — it’s woven into the fabric of Seattle,” Seattle Storm President and CEO Alisha Valavanis said in a press release. “Her leadership transcended basketball and helped shape a cultural shift—one that expanded who gets to lead, who gets seen and who gets celebrated.

“Today, as the first WNBA franchise to honor a player with a statue, we celebrate not just Sue’s illustrious career, but the standard of excellence and future she helped shape for the next generation of athletes, leaders and advocates. This statue is more than a tribute. It’s a promise that what Sue stands for will keep rising, and young people, especially girls, will always see themselves in greatness.”

Bird’s No. 10 jersey is already retired by the Storm, but a statue raises her to the level of other Seattle legends like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Dave Niehaus — all outside of T-Mobile Park. Bird will join Lenny Wilkens as the only two statues outside of Climate Pledge Arena.

“For over two decades, the city of Seattle supported me, both on and off the court,” Bird said in the release. “It’s because of this community that Seattle will forever hold a special place in my heart. This statue isn’t just for me, it’s for anyone out there hoping to one day pursue their passions and live out their dreams. I’m thankful to the Storm and Seattle for this honor, and can’t wait to celebrate with my family, friends and our amazing fans this August.”

During her 19 seasons on the court, Bird averaged 11.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. She finished her career as the WNBA’s all-time leader in assists (3,234) and minutes (18,079), in addition to being eighth in points (6,803), third in steals (724) and second in 3-pointers made (1,001), among other top-10 rankings.

In addition to the statue unveiling, the Storm will host a fan fest at 12 p.m. the same day. Those festivities will lead up to the Storm’s home game against the Phoenix Mercury at 3 p.m., which is being coined the “Forever Sue” game by the franchise.