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.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lindsey Heaps had a goal and an assist, and Jaedyn Shaw also scored to propel the United States to a sixth straight shutout victory with a 2-0 win over Argentina in the SheBelieves Cup on Sunday.
The U.S. has outscored opponents 27-1 over its past seven games. Coach Emma Hayes’ squad hasn’t lost since falling 2-1 to Portugal in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 23.
Heaps scored from the top of the box in the 19th minute. Emma Sears worked the ball out of the left corner and into the box, then passed to a wide-open Heaps, who converted with her left foot. It was her 39th international goal, the most on the current U.S. roster.
Shaw found the back of the net from the top left corner of the box. Her right-footed shot curved toward the left post and into the net for her 10th international goal.
After Shaw scored, Lilly Reale was treated for a right leg injury and replaced by Emily Fox.
During stoppage time, Argentina’s Milagros Martín was assessed a yellow card for shoving Trinity Rodman in the back after she came on as a second-half substitute. Rodman was treated on the field in second-half stoppage time and did not return for the final minutes of the match.
The U.S. dominated possession, holding the ball 67.7% of the time. The Americans had three shots on target, while Argentina had just one on target against U.S. goalkeeper Claudia Dickey.
The SheBelieves Cup — a four-team round-robin that also includes Canada and Colombia — moves to Columbus, Ohio, on March 4, when the Americans will take on Canada. The Canadians beat Colombia 4-1 earlier Sunday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
KUALA LUMPUR: Riyadh’s King Fahd Sport City Stadium will host the opening and closing matches of next year´s Asian Cup, officials announced Monday, the football showpiece seen as a precursor for the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia was awarded the World Cup but will first host the Asian Cup from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
“The King Fahd Sports City Stadium… will provide the backdrop for both the eagerly anticipated Final as well as the opening match, featuring hosts and three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia,” the AFC said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur.
The 70,000-plus venue in Riyadh will also host four group stage battles, a round of 16 tie and a quarter-final match before the final in early February, the AFC added.
Popularly known as “The Tent” because of its roof, inspired by a traditional Bedouin dwelling, the stadium is the largest of the eight venues hosting the soccer showpiece.
Asian Cup matches will also be played in Jeddah and Al Khobar.
Match pairings and kick-off times will be confirmed at the AFC’s final draw on April 11 in Riyadh, the AFC said.
Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, staged and won the Asian Cup two years ago.
The tournament was supposed to take place in China in 2023, but was moved out of the country because of the country’s Covid policies at the time.
Bayern Munich want striker Harry Kane to sign a new contract, and Real Madrid want the same for star forward Vinícius Júnior. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Bayern Munich are ramping up their efforts to get striker Harry Kane to extend his contract, according to Fabrizio Romano, amid interest from clubs in the Premier League and Saudi Pro League. The 32-year-old, whose existing deal has just over a year remaining, has been inspired form this season as he closes in on Robert Lewandowski‘s infamous 41-goal single-season Bundesliga record.
– Vinícius Júnior remains in constant contact with Real Madrid over a contract extension with the club, reports AS. The 25-year-old has a deal that expires in 2027, and while he has been a key player for Madrid, there have been doubts over his future. Frustrations under former boss Xabi Alonso led to reports over a possible exit from the Bernabeu, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League and the Premier League linked with a switch. However, a recent uptick in form under Alvaro Arbeloa could see him extend his deal beyond next summer, with discussions ongoing.
– Manchester City are willing to break the world record transfer fee for a full-back in order to sign Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento this summer, according to TeamTalk. The existing record is Achraf Hakimi‘s £60-million move from Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. City have been impressed with Livramento’s form this season, and Newcastle are keen for the 23-year-old to extend his contract, which runs until 2028.
– Manchester United scouts have been left “impressed” by Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andrés, according to TeamTalk. The 20-year-old came through the ranks at Real Madrid, making three senior appearances for the Spanish giants, before moving to Germany in the transfer window for just £2 million. While United are joined by Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle in sending scouts to watch Chema, it is claimed that any deal is complicated by Real Madrid having a buyback clause worth £10 million.
– United are willing to move Mason Mount on this summer, according to Ekrem Konur. The midfielder has struggled to gain consistent minutes for the Red Devils since his £55 million move from Chelsea, with injuries plaguing his time at the club. With Mount approaching the final two years under contract at Old Trafford, an exit could be on the cards, with Aston Villa named as one of the teams showing interest.
OTHER RUMORS
– Newcastle are showing interest in Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who is set to be a free agent this summer when his contract with the Cherries expires (The Sun).
– Aston Villa are keen on a move for Nicolas Jackson this summer, who is expected to return to Chelsea at the end of his loan deal with Bayern Munich (Football Insider).
– Liverpool ace Alexis Mac Allister is fast becoming a top target for Real Madrid in the midfield this summer (TeamTalk).
– Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are monitoring a potential move for 19-year-old PSG midfielder Senny Mayulu, amid a contract stalemate (CaughtOffside).
– Fulham and West Ham are willing to meet AC Milan’s asking price for former Arsenal academy star Yunus Musah this summer, following the conclusion of his loan spell with Atalanta (Ekrem Konur).
– Manchester United are stepping up plans to sign a goalkeeper in the summer, with Andre Onana and Altay Bayandir free to leave the club in the upcoming transfer window (Football Insider).
– Nottingham Forest are not planning on triggering a permanent deal clause in the loan move for Lorenzo Lucca, with the striker expected to return to Napoli at the end of the season (Nicolo Schira).
– Barcelona are intending on sealing a new contract for Ferran Torres, with his current deal expiring in 2027, but talks are yet to open between the parties (AS).
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