After a historic playing career with the Seattle Storm, Sue Bird rejoined the franchise, this time as a member of the organization’s ownership group.
The Storm announced the news Wednesday but did not disclose Bird’s involvement in the franchise.
“As a player, I put my heart into every Seattle Storm game, and now, as a member of the ownership group, I am excited to continue contributing to the growth of the game,” Bird said in a statement. “Investing in women’s sport is not just about passion; it’s smart business. This is about recognizing the immense talent, dedication and commercial potential of our league. Force 10 Hoops and Storm have been at the forefront for decades. Together, we are not only shaping the future of basketball, but we are also paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive society.
The Storm’s ownership group, Force 10 Hoops, is led by Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder and Dawn Trudeau. Brummel said in a statement that the franchise was “thrilled” to welcome Bird to the ownership ranks. Brummel added: “His knowledge of the game and the league, his ever-growing business acumen and his dedication to the Storm organization make him a superb addition to the ownership group. »
The Storm was one of the league’s best franchises throughout Bird’s tenure. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 WNBA draft, Bird played her entire WNBA career with the franchise, winning four championships as a point guard. Bird retired in 2022 as the WNBA’s all-time assists leader (3,234 assists). She was honored on each of the WNBA’s marquee teams and won five Olympic gold medals during her playing career.
Prior to the 2023 season, the Storm were named as the most valuable team in the league, with a valuation of $151 million. This is the highest valuation of a WNBA franchise in the league to date, although the numbers are historically difficult to find.
Last week, Seattle unveiled its new $64 million basketball performance center. After spending more than a decade practicing on the campus of Seattle Pacific University, the Storm became only the second WNBA team to have a facility dedicated solely to its use. “Everything is set up so you can focus on becoming the best athlete you can be,” Gilder said. Athleticism last week.
Added star point guard Jewell Loyd: “I told (head coach Noelle Quinn) from day one that I wanted to have an advantage. What is our advantage? It’s an advantage. Other teams don’t have that. They don’t have the accessibility that we have. We will use it.
Bird’s addition is the latest announcement in a busy offseason for the Storm. In free agency, they signed former league MVP Nneka Ogwumike and six-time All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith. WNBA training camp begins Sunday with Seattle’s first preseason game scheduled for May 5.
While it’s important that Bird joins the Storm ownership group, she’s also already an investor in a professional women’s sports franchise. In July 2022, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that Bird had become a minority investor in the club.
Required reading
(Photo: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)