Sue Bird holds a special place in the world of basketball. For several years, she competed at the highest level winning herself the strong leverage of being the GOAT over her peers. She spent two decades of her professional career with the Seattle Storm, winning multiple awards and titles with them. Bird was drafted in 2002 as the No.1 overall pick.
WNBA players would often travel abroad to earn more money during the off-season. Sue played in Russia for a couple of seasons during her career as well. Bird was a part of UMMC Ekaterinburg, a team that accommodated players like Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. She even played for the Spartak Moscow Region and Dynamo Moscow between 2004 and 2011.
The former USA Female Athlete of the Year won four WNBA titles throughout her 20-year career. She is the only player in the history of the league to win titles in every decade she has been part of during her career. Bird even won multiple Euroleague titles, and Russian National League titles and even led the WNBA in assists thrice. With all that she has achieved, fans only wonder if she’s related to NBA legend Larry Bird.
Sue Bird is not related to Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird
Based on the surname that they both share, Sue Bird has often been mistaken for being the daughter of the Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird. Sometimes fans believe that there is some sort of relationship between them. However, they aren’t related at all. Sue was born to Jewish-Russian parents, Herschel and Nancy Bird. Years before her birth, her father’s parents migrated from Ukraine in the early 1900s.
Interestingly, her surname was never Bird. Her grandfather changed it from “Boorda” to Bird after settling down in the United States. She was welcomed into the world on October 16, 1980, and she quickly developed a liking for the sport of basketball at a very young age. Sue Bird is one of the most accomplished stars of the WNBA with five Olympic gold medals on her resume as well. She even led Team USA to five world championship top-three finishes.
Sue Bird’s fit did not disappoint ahead of her jersey retirement 🔥
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/0VNrXoYLdW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 11, 2023
Bird retired in 2022 playing her final season with the Seattle Storm. She was named among the 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th WNBA Anniversary Teams as well. Sue continues to remain an associate of the WNBA in various ways, occasionally appearing on sports entertainment segments between games. Bird was also briefly a front-office associate for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA.