No matter the opponent, no matter the season, one thing hoops fans have always been able to rely on is Sue Bird setting up teammates with high-precision dimes. Guiding the Seattle Storm to a 7-0 lead, Bird elects to keep her foot on the gas, literally, flying out in transition before dishing off a no-look shovel pass to her star teammate for an easy transition finish. Bird and the Storm rode that hot start to a wire-to-wire 78-57 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on May 30, 2008, with their star point guard setting the table for 10 assists.

Sue Bird

Sue Bird dishes behind-back dime to trailing Lauren Jackson

Whether it's a must-win postseason battle, a simple preseason game, or a star-studded All-Star exhibition, if Sue Bird is involved, you’re guaranteed to see highlight-level passing. In the final All-Star Game of her decorated career, the Seattle Storm guard puts that celebrated court vision on display one more time, lofting a touch pass to a teammate cutting backdoor for an easy score before earning a standing ovation moments later. Making good on her 13th appearance —  the most in WNBA history —  Bird doled out six assists in 15 minutes for Team Stewart on July 10, 2022. 

Sue Bird receives farewell send-off in 2022 All-Star Game

If there’s a passing lane to a scoring threat out there, expect Sue Bird to find it. The Seattle Storm point god zips a one-handed entry pass to teammate Mercedes Russell for her 3,000th career dime in the WNBA. The No. 1 all-time assist leader reached the milestone in a July 9, 2021 matchup against the Phoenix Mercury.

Sue Bird becomes first in WNBA history to log 3,000 assists

Sue Bird’s court vision is borderline mythical. The iconic Seattle Storm floor general attacks the Connecticut Sun in transition, draws a defender in as she dribbles toward the paint, then offloads a perfectly placed, two-handed feed behind her head to a wide-open Natasha Howard. Bird finished with 11 points and nine dimes in the July 1, 2018 victory.

Sue Bird runs the floor, laces instant classic dime overhead to Natasha Howard

Even after 19 seasons in one of the most storied careers in WNBA history, Sue Bird still has the ability to dazzle with her slick passing tricks. Controlling the ball at the top of the key, the Seattle Storm backcourt legend fools the defense with a quick head fake to her right before instantly slinging a perfect pass over the top into the lane where she finds a teammate for an easy layup off the glass. It was business as usual for Bird in this one, dishing a team-high seven assists to go along with three rebounds, a steal and two three-pointers in a tight 74-71 victory over the Chicago Sky on May 18, 2022.

Sue Bird creates lane with ball fake, sends entry pass into post

Playing in her final regular season game in a city she’s called home for two decades, Sue Bird was quick to remind that she still hasn’t lost her magic touch. Displaying the legendary vision that made her the league’s all-time leader in assists, the Seattle Storm legend enters attack mode in the halfcourt offense, navigating her way around multiple Las Vegas Aces defenders while creating a path to the basket. The eternally unselfish Bird baits the defense underneath, waiting until the last possible second to dish a well-executed dump off to a cutting teammate. With her storybook career winding down, Bird treated the home crowd to a nine-point, four-rebound, six-assist performance on August 7, 2022.

Sue Bird salutes Seattle in final regular season appearance at home

The best way to determine Sue Bird’s favorite play in a career full of unforgettable moments? Go straight to the source. As a Seattle Storm teammate works to set up the offense against the Phoenix Mercury, Bird shakes loose to grab a pass behind the arc and drains what she’s deemed the best shot of her career — with a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line, the tie-breaking triple with 2.8 seconds remaining capped a 15-0 Storm run to close the game and push Bird closer to her second of four championship rings. Bird’s performance of 16 points, five rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and a steal were vital in the Storm’s 91-88 triumph in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on September 5, 2010.

Sue Bird buries game-winning triple to clinch series in 2010 Conference Finals

With a track record of big buckets spanning more than two decades, Seattle Storm veteran Sue Bird lives for the clutch. Down by three points in the final minute of a second-round matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, Bird picks and pops out to the three-point line then buries a game-tying jumper over the outstretched arms of Diana Taurasi on September 26, 2021. Bird finished with 16 points in the overtime clash.

Sue Bird buries clutch three over Diana Taurasi in 2021 Playoffs

Sue Bird saved some of her best work for the final chapter of her Hall of Fame career. In her fifth-to-last WNBA game, the Seattle Storm cornerstone shows she’s still got plenty left in the tank, getting a defender to bite on a pump fake from the halfcourt logo. The rest is easy from there, as the wide-open Bird calmly sinks the triple, one of four makes in Seattle’s opening-round series against the Washington Mystics. The final double-double of Bird’s storybook career  — 18 points and 10 assists, along with four rebounds and two steals — earned the Storm a 97-84 victory and 2-0 series sweep on August 21, 2022.

Sue Bird baits defender with pumpfake, buries triple in 2022 Playoffs

Marketplace

Sue Bird

Sue Bird

Sue Bird

Sue Bird

Sue Bird

Sue Bird

Sue Bird

Sue Bird

Sue Bird