Sue Bird

Who is Sue Bird?

Sue Bird and her fiance Megan Rapinoe are a new source of hope for sports fans and hopeless romantics alike. Love can be defined in a variety of ways, but for Megan and Rapione, it is purity and support. Sue is a fantastic person as well as one of the top WNBA basketball players.

Sue Bird, an American-Israeli professional basketball player, was selected by the Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft.

Sue is also the only WNBA player to win a championship in the last three decades.

She also won her fifth Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

With her triumph, she became one of just two female Olympic basketball players to earn five gold medals.

Sue Bird’s life and career are both gorgeous to look at and inspiring.

So, before we get into the specifics, here are some short facts about the WNBA great.

Sue Bird | Childhood and Early Life

Sue Bird was born on October 16, 1980, in Syosset, Nassau County, New York.

Herschel Bird and Nancy Bird gave birth to her.

Bird’s father, Herschel, is Russian-Jewish, and their surname was original “Boorda.”

She has also been an Israeli citizen since 2006, thanks to her Jewish father and paternal grandparents.

Sue, like her older sister Jennifer, has always been athletically motivated.

Sue’s sister Jen is five years her senior and was active in athletics.

Thus, Sue became interested in basketball at the age of seven, and during the sixth grade, she joined her first AAU team.

Furthermore, she graduated from Christ of King, a school noted for its strong basketball teams.

The bird was undefeated in her second season, winning multiple state championships and national titles.

Height, weight, and age

Sue Bird, who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall, is regarded as one of the finest players in WNBA history.

The woman with dark hair and brown eyes is athletic and weighs 68 kg.

Furthermore, the Seattle Storm’s point guard wears her curly hair in a slick ponytail.

On game day, her heated cheeks complement her light skin.

Not to mention one of the best scenarios is her athletic poise.

Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe’s fiancee, is a WNBA sensation

As previously stated, the American-Israeli professional basketball player began her WNBA career in 2002.

Her passion for basketball, though, began at the age of seven.

As a result, at the age of 11, she performed at halftime of a St.

John’s basketball game.

Her skill was evident when she enticed a security guard to beg for her autograph.

Bird, likewise, spent two seasons as a junior at Christ the King.

Similarly, in the second season, Bird was unbeaten and won the New York state championship.

She received numerous honors, including New York State Player of the Year.

Similarly, she scored 11 points in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America Game.

College Life

Sue Bird chose the University of Connecticut because it was close to home, despite having several possibilities.

Despite being scared by the commitments of Keirsten Walters and Brianne Stepherson to UConn, Bird tore her ACL eight games into her freshman season.

Similarly, in her sophomore season, Bird jumped back to lead the team to a 36-0 record.

In her junior season, she lost to the Huskies, only to avenge herself in her senior season with a 39-0 record.

During the same season, Sue also received the Wade Trophy, Honda Sports Award, and Naismith Award.

Sue also played in what is widely regarded as the best women’s basketball game ever played. As a result, the game was immortalized in a book called Bird at the Buzzer.

Bird finished her college career with a record of 114-4.

Draft and Rookie Years in 2002

The bird was taken first overall in the 2002 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm after a stellar college career.

During her debut season, she started all 32 games for the Storm and averaged 14.4 points per game.

Sue finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting.

She was one of just two rookies to be named to the WNBA All-Rookie First Team.

During her rookie season, she set a career-high with 33 points in a regular-season game against the Portland Fire.

Bird won her second championship with the Storm, and she had one of the most memorable playoff moments in WNBA history.

She hit a game-winning three-pointer with two seconds remaining in Game 2 against the Phoenix Mercury.

Despite knee concerns, Bird played 29 games in the 2012 WNBA regular season and playoffs.

Sue also had knee surgery, which prevented her from playing the full 2013 season.

Her comeback for the 2014 WNBA season was incredible.

She had a ppg of 10.6 and an APG of 4.6.

She has also named a WNBA all-star that year.

Sue Bird, meanwhile, re-signed with the Storm in free agency and averaged 12.8 PPG – she shot a career-high 3-point field goal %, her best since knee surgery in 2013.

Injuries and Opportunities

Bird, sadly, needed to be left knee surgery in April 2017.

As a result, she was unable to attend training camp and was eventually ruled out indefinitely.

Bird became the WNBA’s oldest active player when she made her season debut in 2017.

She was selected as a 2017 WNBA All-Star, her ninth appearance in the game.

Bird became the Storm’s all-time leading scorer in the 2018 season after scoring 21 points in a 97-91 victory over the Washington Mystics.

Bird did not play in the 2019 season due to knee surgery.

A global epidemic in 2020 pushed back the season and reduced it to 22 games at IMG Academy.

Sue had also missed half of the games due to knee problems.

Despite the odds, Bird made history by winning her fourth WNBA title in three decades.

Sue was named to The W25, the league’s official ranking of the top 25 players, in 2021.

Bird has played in 519 games throughout her nearly two-decade stint in the league.

Similarly, she set a league record with 2,888 assists while finishing sixth in points scored with 6,262.

Rudy Gay’s statistics demonstrate his high level of proficiency in his basketball career.

The Road to Becoming the Only Player to Have Won Five Olympic Gold Medals

Sue, the Storm’s point guard, would win gold in Athens, Greece, at the 2004 Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament.

Similarly, she was re-invited to the Beijing Olympic basketball team in 2008.

Bird started all eight games and led the club in steals with 14.

The United States won its second gold medal.

Similarly, the American team won its fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Bird won her third gold medal with the squad.

The New York native was a key member of the United States squad that defeated Spain in the 2016 Summer Olympics finale.

Her fourth Olympic gold medal and the team’s sixth in a row.

Sue Bird and Megan Rapine

Sue Bird has been celebrating her victory with her companion Megan since 2016. Megan’s Instagram is the source.

Sue was also chosen as the flag bearer for the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

By this point, Bird had amassed five historic gold medals.

Championship of the World

The bird was named to the national squad in 2002 and competed in the World Championships in China.

She averaged 4.3 points per game.

The bird was also nominated to the National Team for the 2006 World Championships in San Paulo, Brazil.

She led the team with 41 assists but was defeated in the gold round by Russia.

As a result, the USA team had to settle for bronze in Brazil.

Sue Bird, Rapinoe’s fiancee, played for the USA Basketball team at the World Championship in September and October of 2010.

Despite insufficient practice, Team USA won the tournament and gold medal.

She also led the squad with 26 assists and averaged 5.6 points per game.

Bird, likewise, represented her birth country at the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

The squad won the gold medal after defeating Spain.

Gabrielle Williams’ aka Gabby Williams’ career is unparalleled.

She is a member of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.

Similarly, at the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the undefeated squad defeated Australia to win gold.

Sue finished the final with five assists, tying her for the most assists in World Cup history for the United States.

Bird also became the first player in history to win four World Cup gold medals.

Highlights of Sue Bird’s Career

• The Naismith Memorial Award (2002)
• National Lieberman Award x3 (2000-2002) (2000-2002)
• 2x NCAA Champion (2000, 2002) (2000, 2002)
• 5x EuroLeague Champion (2007-2010, 2013) (2007-2010, 2013)
• 5x Russian National League Champion (2007, 2008, 2012-14) (2007, 2008, 2012-14)
• 2x WNBA Peak Performer (2009, 2016) (2009, 2016)
• 3x All-WNBA assists leader (2005, 2009, 2016) (2005, 2009, 2016)
• 12x WNBA All-star (2002, 2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021) (2002, 2003, 2005–2007, 2009,
• 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021)
• USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year 2021

Sue Bird | Net Worth & Earnings

The four-time WNBA champion, Sue Bird, has been in the WNBA since 2002.

Her experiences and titles already explained her wealth.

Although the actual figure isn’t published, her six-figure contracts speak volumes.

Besides NBA salary, Bird also makes a colossal amount from brand sponsorships.

Earning As Professional Basketball Players

In Bird’s nearly two decades career, she has earned several esteemed titles.

Moreover, Bird joined the WNBA long before six figures was a thing.

But the irony, even if she had joined the league a long time, her maximum salary was still under six figures.

Regardless, she is still counted among the highest-paid WNBA players.

As of 2022, Sue Bird signed a year contract worth $72,141 as a free agent.

The bird was one of the best point guards ever to play in 2014 – she signed a five-year contract worth $673,000 with the Storm—an average salary of $134,600 per year throughout the contract period.

Furthermore, in 2020, Sue’s salary was bumped to $215,000 yearly.

Although Bird’s WNBA league has been phenomenal, she reportedly never made real money.

As a result, she headed overseas and played for various Russian Premier League teams.

Bird made between $400,000 and $1 million per season during her time in Euroleague, depending on bonuses.

Earnings From Sponsorship

Sue Bird reportedly made very little from the league, most of her earnings from overseas games and endorsements.

One of Bird’s prime sponsors is Nike.

Other sponsors are Symetra, State Farm, American Express, CarMax, Mendi, and Glossier.

Hence, Bird’s net worth is heavily supported by endorsements as well.

Never Worried About Being Gay

One’s sexuality is none of the public’s business.

WNBA star Sue Bird agrees. She never felt the need to “come out” despite realizing her sexuality in college.

Furthermore, Bird never spoke about being gay with her college teammate Diana Taurasi, who is also gay, until in the 2000s in Russia.

However, the utterly private star was finally ready to speak in 2017.

It came out Publicly in 2017

In a conversation with ESPNW’s Mechelle Voepel, Bird said, “I’m gay. Megan’s my girlfriend..” She further explained that her sexuality and relationship weren’t secrets to people who knew her.

Bird further denied having to keep her sexuality a secret.

But, she felt the weight of “coming out” throughout her career since it is a relatively personal journey.

Thus, Bird said, “It’s happening when it’s happening because that’s what feels right.

Still unhinged, she addressed people who thought she should have done it sooner and said, “It is what it is.”

Above all, Bird clarified that her decision to speak has nothing to do with her relationship with Rapinoe.

She said, “This has nothing to do with Megan… This has been something I’ve been on the verge of doing for a long time.”

That was 2017, on the eve of her record-tying 10th WNBA All-Star Game.

The bird was very close to coming out before the 2016 Rio Olympics while filling out a “25 things you don’t know about Olympians.” But she didn’t.

The athletic couple has been turning heads and making headlines ever since.

It All Started in 2016…

The unflappable soccer star Megan Rapione and WNBA Sue Bird first met at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

After the women’s soccer team failed to make it to the semifinals, they cheered for the U.S. basketball team led by Bird.

Although Megan didn’t notice Bird at an after-party, they soon met up on their home turf of Seattle.

While talking to the Seattle Times, Bird’s girlfriend, Rapinoe, revealed that the pair started as a friendship, but they were dating within a month in September 2016.

Moreover, the power duo Megan and Rapione made history after being featured in ESPN’s Body Issue in 2018.

They became the first gay couple to do so.

Bird’s fiance said that the pair do not want to do things as a token of their sexuality but want to celebrate who they are in the sport.

The sports couple advocates issues that aren’t always highlighted in sports.

Engaged in 2020

The sports couple, Megan and Sue, have celebrated many victories together.

Furthermore, after four years of dating, the do-gooder couple engaged in October 2020.

While celebrating Bird’s 40th birthday and fourth WNBA championship with the Storm in Antigua, Megan got on her knees and popped the question.

Megan Rapinoe’s fiancee shares their happy news on Friday evening on her Instagram.

The sweet snap shows the WNBA champion standing in an infinity pool looking out over the ocean as her partner kneels on edge to place a ring on her finger.

Megan Rapinoe’s Wife Sue Bird

The pair appeared on G.Q. shortly after their engagement. Throughout the four years-long relationship, we have witnessed the power couple grow.

Hopefully, we will see them exchange vows shortly after.

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Sue Bird | Social Media

Megan Rapione’s soon-to-be wife, Sue Bird, is active on social media.

She boasts 651k followers on her Instagram.

Likewise, Bird’s Twitter has 184k followers, and 216k followers on Facebook.