Sports
‘Proud and honored’ Bird sees Storm unveil statue
SEATTLE — In a ceremony before the Seattle Storm hosted the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, legendary former guard Sue Bird became the first WNBA player honored by her franchise with a statue outside of Climate Pledge Arena.
“People keep asking me what it feels like to be the first,” Bird said during her speech. “The truth is that I never set out to be the first at anything, but if being the first means I won’t be the last, if this statue means that 20 years from now there will be statues of other WNBA greats — some who are in the audience and players whose names you don’t even know yet — than I’m proud to be the first.”
Few players if any in league history have done more to merit recognition than Bird, who spent her entire two-decade WNBA career with the Storm, playing the bulk of it at KeyArena before the building was rebuilt and reopened as Climate Pledge Arena for Bird’s final campaign in 2022.
Over that span, Bird led Seattle to four WNBA championships, tying the most by any franchise. She also retired as the league’s all-time leader in games and minutes played as well as assists, making a record 13 All-Star appearances. Yet as other speakers (including three-time MVP and longtime teammate Lauren Jackson) highlighted, Bird’s career can’t be reduced to stats or titles alone.
“We can have that basketball conversation,” said Hall of Famer Swin Cash, who teamed with Bird both to win two national titles at UConn and the 2010 championship with Seattle. “Greatness changes the game. Greatness evolves. Greatness stays and has longevity. And that’s what Sue has.”
Certainly, nothing has longevity like a statue. And that’s why for all the honors Bird has received since her career concluded, including the Storm retiring her No. 10 jersey in 2023 and the street outside Climate Pledge being renamed “Sue Bird Court” last summer — with induction in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame set for later this year — Bird said this moment stands apart.
“I don’t know if ‘honor’ even really covers it,” she told reporters, “because it’s a bronze statue that will be there forever. It feels different when you think of it that way.”
The statue, created by Roblatt Amrany Studio sculptor Julie Rotblatt-Amrany, features Bird making a layup in a pose similar to the silhouette that appears on the Climate Pledge court. After considering the options of featuring a pass or one of her trademark pull-up jumpers, Bird found symbolism in the layup.
“Some fun little fact about my career that maybe some of you know, maybe not,” Bird said. “My very first points in the WNBA at KeyArena as a rookie were on a layup. My very final points in the WNBA were at Climate Pledge on a layup.”
Bird helped oversee details of the statue, which depicts her wearing Nike Air Zoom Huarache sneakers. Bird wore those shoes while winning her first Olympic gold medal and the Storm’s first championship, both in 2004.
“The process was interesting and really fun,” she said. “It was so incredible, every time I went to the studio to walk in — it’s weird to see yourself in clay form — but it was like every little tweak, it just became more and more me until finally I was underneath it and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s my nose. Oh, that’s definitely my hair.'”
In Bird’s memory, talk of a statue began in earnest after the Storm’s third championship in 2018, before increasing in volume when Climate Pledge opened ahead of her final season. After retirement, Bird began to believe it would become reality.
Other WNBA players, most notably A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, have been immortalized with statues at their college homes. Bird is the first outside a WNBA arena, as well as the first female athlete in the city of Seattle.
The Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball have statues of Hall of Famers Ken Griffey, Jr. and Edgar Martinez and recently announced plans to add a third statue for Ichiro after his recent induction. And Bird joins longtime Seattle SuperSonics player, coach and executive Lenny Wilkens, whose nearby statue outside Climate Pledge was revealed in June.
“There’s just not a lot of women that are honored in this way, and we have tons of men,” Bird said. “I’m actually really proud and honored, especially in the city of Seattle, to be with those other male athletes. Those are elite, elite athletes and I’m really proud to be in the same breath as some of the greats that have come through here, but even more proud to be the first WNBA player.”
To conclude her speech, Bird pointed out that she never would have imagined this honor when she arrived in Seattle as the No. 1 pick in the 2002 WNBA draft at age 21.
“I came to Seattle as Sue Bird the basketball player while leaving as Sue Bird the Seattleite,” she said. “This statue will make sure a piece of me stays in this city forever, just like this city will always be a part of me. And when you inevitably see a little bird poop on the shoulder, don’t worry about it. Just consider it family checking in and reminding me where home is.”
Star batsman Virat Kohli slammed a record-extending 52nd one-day international century, scoring 135 off 120 balls to lead India to a thrilling 17-run victory over a determined South Africa in the first ODI on Sunday at Ranchi.
Kohli shared a second-wicket partnership of 136 runs with fellow stalwart Rohit Sharma, setting India on course for a competitive 349-8.
South Africa’s number eight, Corbin Bosch, made a valiant 67 off 51 balls, keeping his team in contention until the final moments. Entering the 50th over, the visitors needed 18 runs with one wicket left, but Bosch fell on the second ball, leaving South Africa all out for 332.
Earlier, Matthew Breetzke (72) and Marco Jansen (70) had forged a fighting 97-run stand for the sixth wicket, reviving the chase after South Africa slipped to 11-3 and 77-4.
Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler for India, taking 4-68, including a crucial double strike to dismiss Jansen and Breetzke in just three balls—a turning point in the match that helped India secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Kohli, now 37, raised his 83rd international century across all three formats with a boundary off Jansen, celebrating with the raucous home crowd.
“If you’ve played over 300 games and so much cricket, you know your reflexes and physical ability are there to bat long,” said Kohli, the player of the match.
“As long as you’re hitting the ball well and playing good cricket, it’s about being physically fit, mentally ready, and excited.”
Kohli mania
An enthusiastic Indian fan breached security and ran onto the field to touch Virat Kohli’s feet before being restrained.
Kohli now holds the record for the most ODI hundreds, with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar second with 49.
In a single format, he also leads the list, while Tendulkar’s 51 hundreds came in Tests.
Kohli and 38-year-old Rohit Sharma, who scored 57, now only play ODIs after retiring from T20s and Tests.
Their presence strengthened India, led by KL Rahul in the absence of the injured Shubman Gill, following a 2-0 Test series whitewash against South Africa.
Rohit lost fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal early for 18, but Kohli walked in to a roar from a 38,000-strong crowd.
The pair steadied the innings before Rohit was trapped lbw by Marco Jansen.
Rohit hit three sixes in his 51-ball knock, taking his total to 352 sixes in ODIs, surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (351).
Kohli accelerated after reaching his first century since February, hitting off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen for two fours and two sixes in the 39th over, scoring 21 runs. He eventually fell to Nandre Burger, caught by Ryan Rickelton, after hitting 11 fours and seven sixes.
KL Rahul contributed 60 off 56 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja added 32 off 20.
Corbin Bosch recorded his first ODI half-century, keeping South Africa in the contest, making the series opener an exciting match ahead of the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday.
“Great to sit in the change room and watch the guys do their thing,” said stand-in skipper Aiden Markram. “Never losing the belief that we can pull off a rabbit from the hat.”
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The Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders’ matchup on Sunday featured several great plays, but the most impactful came in overtime.
It didn’t take long for the Broncos to score. Bo Nix made four completions, including a 41-yard pass to Evan Engram, and then handed the ball off to running back RJ Harvey, who scored from five yards out to take a 27-20 lead.
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Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota created some late-game heroics. He found Deebo Samuel on 3rd-and-14 for a 38-yard gain. He connected with Terry McLaurin to bring the game to within one point. With nothing to lose, the Commanders decided to go for two and the win. Mariota dropped back to pass and his attempt to Jeremy McNichols was blocked by Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto.
The Broncos won the game, 27-26.
Nix finished 29-of-45 for 321 yards and a touchdown pass. Harvey had 35 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Harvey and Bonito’s overtime heroics were just two of a handful of great plays made during the game.
Nix did his best to pull out all the stops. He helped put Denver ahead before halftime when he threw a touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton as he was falling to the ground. He avoided the rush and his calf was about to hit the ground before he fired the ball to Sutton in the end zone.
Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton (49) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) in the fourth quarter of the game at Northwest Stadium on Nov. 30, 2025. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
BRONCOS’ BO NIX THROWS TD PASS WHILE FALLING TO GROUND IN STUNNING PLAY
Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks likely said, “Watch this,” before he made his sensation play. Burks received a pass from Mariota in the end zone. He, somehow, made a one-handed catch for a crucial go-ahead touchdown.
It was Burks’ second career touchdown catch and it was one that the Commanders really needed.
Mariota was trying to keep the drive alive with under four minutes to go in the game. He found tight end Zach Ertz open in the middle of the field. The ball was thrown high and Ertz was able to grab the pass and bring it down.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (36) celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Bo Nix, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
But just as he was going to secure the catch, Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton knocked the ball loose and the pass was incomplete. Washington punted the ball away.
Singleton was playing in his first game since he underwent testicular cancer surgery three weeks ago. It was a big play, but it came just a few minutes too early as Mariota would lead the Commanders down the field to tie the game.
Mariota played as well as one could play in a hard-fought game. He was 28-of-50 with 294 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He also had 55 yards on the ground.
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Ertz finished with 10 catches for 106 yards. McLaurin had seven catches for 96 yards.
Denver improved to 10-2 with the win and have won nine straight games. Washington fell to 3-9.
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Undefeated Nebraska earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament bracket released Sunday.
The five-time national champion Huskers (30-0) have dominated this season, dropping just seven sets. They lead Division I in hitting percentage at .352.
Dani Busboom Kelly, who won NCAA titles as both a Nebraska player and assistant, took over at her alma mater this season after longtime Huskers coach John Cook retired. Busboom Kelly led Louisville to the NCAA final in 2024, where the Cardinals lost to Penn State.
The other No. 1 seeds are Kentucky, Texas and Pitt. The Wildcats have won one NCAA title, and the Longhorns have four. The Panthers reached the final four the past four seasons but lost in the semifinals each time.
Pitt and Stanford finished tied atop the ACC at 18-2, and the Cardinal won their head-to-head matchup 3-2 at Stanford on Nov. 14. But the Panthers’ overall body of work secured them the last No. 1 seed, while nine-time NCAA champion Stanford is the No. 2 seed in Texas’ region.
SEC regular-season and tournament champion Kentucky defeated Texas 3-2 in the conference tournament final. They would face each other in the national semifinals should they advance that far.
Defending national champion Penn State, the only school that has appeared in every NCAA tournament dating back to the event’s start in 1981, is a No. 8 seed in Texas’ quarter of the bracket. St. Thomas (Minnesota) and Toledo are both making their first appearance in the tournament.
The Big 12 led all leagues with 10 teams in the field, the Big Ten has nine, the ACC seven and the SEC five.
Early-round matches will be held from Dec. 4 to 6 on campus sites. The regionals, scheduled for Dec. 11-14, will be hosted by the four highest seeds still standing in each quarter of the bracket.
The final four is at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, for the third time in the tournament’s history. It was there that Penn State won the championship in 2010 and Nebraska won its most recent title in 2017.
The national semifinals are Dec. 18 (ESPN), and the championship match is Dec. 21 (ABC).
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