VenuesNow 2026 All-Star Honoree: Sue Bird

Sue Bird
Co-Owner
Seattle Storm

LEGEND/BALLER/CO-OWNER
WNBA Hall of Fame hooper won 4 WNBA titles with Seattle Storm, made 13 WNBA All-Star Teams, now co-owns team.

Sue Bird spent two decades defining what it meant to be the face of the Seattle Storm. Now she’s helping shape the franchise from a different seat at the table: as a co-owner.

Bird joined the Storm’s ownership group, Force 10 Hoops, in April 2024, becoming the third retired WNBA player to invest in a former franchise. The move capped a playing career that began when Seattle selected Bird No. 1 overall in the 2002 WNBA draft straight out of UConn, spanning 19 seasons, four WNBA championships, and 13 All-Star selections.

For Bird – who retired from the WNBA in 2022 as the league’s career assists leader – the transition to an exec seat felt less like a new beginning and more like a continuation of sorts.

“I feel like it was kind of inevitable, and in a lot of ways something I always wanted, something that I’ve always had in the back of my head. And then for whatever reason this is just when it worked out, ” Bird said in 2024, per Associated Press.

Having previously served as the vice president of the WNBA Players Association, the former professional athlete is well positioned to bring a player’s perspective to major negotiations the league will face in the years to come.

The Storm stake is one piece of a broader post-playing portfolio for Bird, which includes a minority investment in NWSL’s defending champion Gotham FC and media company TOGETHXR, co-founded with fellow athletes Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim and Simone Manuel.

“As a player, I poured my heart into every game for the Seattle Storm, and now, as part of the ownership group, I am thrilled to continue contributing to the growth of the game,” Bird said in a press release about her role. “Investing in women’s sports isn’t just about passion; it’s smart business. It’s about recognizing the immense talent, dedication, and market potential our league has always had. Force 10 Hoops and the Storm have been at the forefront of this for decades. Together, we’re not just shaping the future of basketball, but also paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive society.”