James Johnson
Trailblazing Seattle Storm legend and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird will be immortalized with a bronze statue unveiling on August 17, marking a historic moment for women’s sports.
Seattle is set to honor one of its most beloved sports icons in a monumental way. Sue Bird, the legendary Seattle Storm point guard and one of the most decorated athletes in basketball history, will become the first WNBA player to have a statue erected in her honor.
The statue will be unveiled on Sunday, August 17, during the Storm’s home game against the Phoenix Mercury — a celebration fittingly titled the “Forever Sue Game.” The event will feature remarks from Bird herself, as well as leaders from the Storm organization and Seattle city officials.
“Sue’s legacy isn’t just written in championships — it’s woven into the fabric of Seattle,” said Alisha Valavanis, President and CEO of the Storm. “Her leadership transcended basketball and helped shape a cultural shift — one that expanded who gets to lead, who gets seen, and who gets celebrated.”
Bird, now 44, played her entire 21-season career with the Seattle Storm, winning four WNBA championships and becoming a 13-time WNBA All-Star. She retired in 2022 as the league’s all-time leader in assists, games played, and wins — a résumé that earned her a place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, where she will be formally inducted this September.
The statue is being crafted by Rotblatt Amrany Studios, the same acclaimed artists behind bronze tributes to Seattle legends like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and Lenny Wilkens.
Beyond her on-court accolades, Bird continues to shape the future of the sport. Earlier this year, she was named the first-ever Managing Director of the USA Women’s National Team, underscoring her enduring impact on basketball at every level.
In 2023, Bird was also honored by Mattel with her own Barbie “Role Model” doll, part of the brand’s 65th anniversary and “Summer of Sports” campaign — a nod to her influence on and off the court.
Bird’s fierce play, calm leadership, and cultural presence have made her an icon beyond basketball. Now, with a permanent statue in the city she helped build into a WNBA powerhouse, her legacy will quite literally be set in stone.
