Sue Bird Honored with First WNBA Monument in History at Climate Pledge Arena

The city of Seattle celebrated the accomplishments of WNBA legend Sue Bird by unveiling a statue of her at Climate Pledge Arena. This marks a historical moment as Bird is the first WNBA player to receive a statue in her honor. She played for the Seattle Storm team from 2002 to 2022, during which the team reached the WNBA Championships four times and Bird earned five Olympic gold medals.

The unveiling, attended by Bird and her fiancée, soccer player Megan Rapinoe, was a significant moment. “I’m the first player to ever have a statue built, and that fact both humbles me and fills me with pride… People keep asking me what it feels like to be the first, and the truth is I never set out to the be first at anything, but if being the first means that I won’t be the last, if this statue means that 20 years from now there will statues of other WNBA greats… then I’m proud to be the first.” said Bird.

Bird’s statue is a testament to the impact she had throughout her career on the Seattle Storm team and her contributions to the wider WNBA community. The celebrations extended beyond the erecting of the statue, with the Space Needle showing the “Sue Bird” flag and Seattle’s Mayor Bruce Harrell designating August 17, 2025, as “Sue Bird Day” in Seattle.

Continuing to express her gratitude, Bird added, “For over two decades, the city of Seattle supported me, both on and off the court… 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…”

Sue Bird’s historic monument sets a precedent for celebrating and honoring female athletes in professional sports. By having her achievements cast in bronze, Bird’s contributions to the sport and her positive influence on future generations will forever be remembered.