Auriemma: Sue Bird Left Nothing 'Undone' In Stellar Basketball Career

STORRS, CT — As far as Geno Auriemma is concerned, Sue Bird has been one of a kind.

Auriemma, Bird's coach at the University of Connecticut, reflected Thursday on the decision by Seattle Storm point guard and WNBA legend Bird's announcement earlier in the day that this season — her 21st in the league —would be her final one as a player in the WNBA.

"Obviously everyone knew this day was coming sooner rather than later," Auriemma said. "Sue was close the last couple years to making this decision and she felt that this was the absolute best time for her to step away from the game."

In announcing Bird's decision, Storm officials called her "one of the most decorated women's professional basketball players in history." Bird spent her entire 21-year career with the Storm — the most by any player in WNBA history.

She has been honored on each of the WNBA's milestone teams including the All-Decade Team (2006), Top 15 Players (2011), Top 20@20 (2016) and was named to the W25 team in 2021 as one of the 25 greatest and most influential players in league history.

In addition, Bird has won a record five Olympic gold medals to go along with four WNBA championships, two NCAA Championships and five EuroLeague titles.

Bird is the WNBA’s all-time assist leader, recording her 3,000th career assist on July 9, 2021 at Phoenix, and has 3,114 career assists—514 more than any other player.

She is the only player to compete in at least 500 games, starting in each of her 559 career games played. In addition, Bird ranks second in career three-pointers made (965), fourth in steals (700), and seventh in points (6,639).

She won national titles at UConn in 2000 and 2002.

"There certainly isn't anything that Sue left undone or to (needs to) prove," Auriemma said. "There’s going to be a lot of stories written and comparisons made about her and everything she's done. It really is no exaggeration to say ... I don’t think in our lifetime of watching basketball ... that we’ve seen anyone play that position at a higher level and for a longer period of time than Sue has."

Auriemma Continued, "There’s a lot of things that have been accomplished and people will say, 'That record will never be broken.' The things Sue has done, the accomplishments she’s earned – I feel pretty good that that's never going to be done again. And if it is? Well, I wouldn’t bet on it."