SEATTLE — It’s official: Seattle Storm star and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird said the 2022 season will be her last with the WNBA.
Bird made the announcement Thursday on Twitter, but it did not come as a surprise.
I’ve decided this will be my final year. I have loved every single minute, and still do, so gonna play my last year, just like this little girl played her first ☺️ #TheFinalYear @seattlestorm pic.twitter.com/Uo2YqCCKUD
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) June 16, 2022
In February, Bird said all signs were pointing toward the 2022 season being her last.
Bird, a four-time WNBA champion, 12-time All-Star and the oldest player in the league at 41, previously announced she would return for one more season.
Bird, the league’s all-time leader in assists, said last season was the first time she played with the idea of possibly retiring in her mind. Seattle lost to Phoenix in the second round of the WNBA playoffs and Bird was met with chants of “one more year” by the home crowd after the loss.
Bird said that resonated and within a few days she called her trainer and decided to start preparing to play in 2022.
This is her 19th season as a player. She missed two seasons due to injury.
The Storm tweeted the video below after Bird made her announcement.
💚🥺@S10Bird x #TheFinalSeason pic.twitter.com/cvCtYwhkoJ
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) June 16, 2022
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