Wednesday, November 4, 2026

WNBA Legend Sue Bird Will Retire After This Season

  • The Seattle Storm icon is a 4-time WNBA champ and the league’s all-time leader in assists.
  • She took a team-friendly pay cut for this season — one year after playing on a supermax contract.
Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Sue Bird is retiring — but one of the greatest careers in women’s basketball history isn’t over just yet.

On Thursday, Bird announced via her social media channels that this WNBA season will be her last.

The 41-year-old is the league’s all-time leader in assists (3,114), All-Star appearances (12), games played (559), and seasons played (19). She’s second all-time in 3PM (965) and 3P% (39.2), and seventh all-time in points (6,639).

A star for the Seattle Storm for the entirety of her 21-year career (she missed two seasons due to injury), Bird has been a champion at every level. She has won two NCAA titles with UConn, five Olympic gold medals with Team USA, and four WNBA Championships with the Storm.

After playing on a supermax contract ($221,450) last season, Bird took a team-friendly pay cut for 2022, signing a one-year, $72,141 deal in February.

She’s getting plenty of income elsewhere: She recently appeared in commercials for Capital One, Carmax, and Corona, and she had the top-selling jersey for the 2020 season.

In 2018, she and fiance Megan Rapinoe were the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 14, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream vice president Renee Montgomery watches a game against the Indiana Fever in the first quarter during game one of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gateway Center Arena at College Park

Renee Montgomery Cautions Friends Running for WNBA Commissioner

She says “it’s not a job that gives you love back.”

Syracuse AD Wants Basketball Powerhouse to Prioritize Football

Syracuse hosts Clemson this weekend with ACC Network’s pregame show in town.

Pro Sports Owners Back GOP in Senate Battleground Races

Nine key races Tuesday will decide control of the Senate.
Oct 31, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries players hold the trophy after winning the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center

WNBA Finals Game 7 Draws 3.3M Viewers

The series averaged nearly 1.9 million viewers, the most for a Finals.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/4/26 – MLB Wants to Delay Salary Cap, WNBA Finals Record, What’s Next for ‘PTI’?

0:00

Featured Today

Pickering High School North

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.

Is the Lamar Jackson Era Over in Baltimore?

Jackson’s contract situation hangs over the franchise.
October 30, 2026

Pro Marathoners Grapple With the Sport’s Pervasive Doping Problem

Pros and coaches tell FOS the ripple effects last for years.
Oct 10, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit:
October 30, 2026

Dylan Larkin’s Trade Demand Comes With a $41K Daily Price Tag

Larkin is playing an expensive waiting game, holding out for a trade.
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
October 28, 2026

Golf and Tennis See Big Gains in Youth Sports Participation

Youth participation in flag football also keeps growing.
October 28, 2026

Saquon Barkley Opposes 18-Game NFL Season: ‘Hell of a Sport’

The Eagles RB cited player health.
Exclusive
October 28, 2026

NFL Told Saquon Barkley to Divest Polymarket Stake

“I was in it before, but no bueno,” Barkley told FOS.
Sponsored

How the New York Yankees Stay Game-Ready with Sage Intacct

See how Sage Intacct helps the Yankees streamline finances and plan for the future.