Syosset's Bird Returns to Team USA After Stepfather Dies

returned to the Team USA basketball team this week after the sudden death of her stepfather. Bird left the team to be with family after her stepfather, Dennis Burden, died unexpectedly of a heart attack.

“It’s been emotional. Obviously he wasn’t my father, but has been in my life for 16 years. He meant so much to my mom,” said Bird, according to WNBA.com.

Bird missed Olympic exhibition games against Brazil and the United Kingdom, coming home to mourn and spend time with her family. She returned in time to help defeat the Croatian team 109-55 in a pre-Olympic exhibition game and will face them again in first game of the London 2012 Olympics this Saturday.

“These things are tough. It’s good to be back, everyone’s been so great," said Bird, reported the WNBA. "In a way even though I’m not with my biological family this is an extension. They make me laugh and I don’t have to think about anything else so it’s really nice.”

Bird, a point guard for WNBA's Seattle Storm, is joining Team USA to compete for her third consecutive Olympic gold medal. The 31-year-old began her career as a before heading to Christ the King Regional High School in Queens and eventually University of Connecticut. Bird is a point-guard for the WNBA's Seattle Storm.