In Her 16th Storm Season, Bird Will Earn Her Eighth Starting Role
NEW YORK – Sue Bird has been named to a WNBA record-tying 10th WNBA All-Star selection, the league announced today.
It’s a feat only one other player has accomplished, as Tamika Catchings recorded 10 appearances between 2002-16 before retiring a year ago. In addition, Bird will earn the starting nod in the All-Star Game for the eighth time in her career and first time since 2011.
Bird is joined on the West roster by Phoenix Mercury guard and WNBA All-Time leading scorer Diana Taurasi, Lynx forward and three-time WNBA Champion Maya Moore, Los Angeles Sparks forward and two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker, and 2015 WNBA Finals MVP and Lynx center, Sylvia Fowles.
The East starters are Connecticut Sun guard Jasmine Thomas, Atlanta Dream guard Tiffany Hayes, Washington Mystics forward and 2015 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne, 2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles, and Connecticut Sun Jonquel Jones.
Verizon WNBA All-Star 2017 is set for July 22 on ABC, with the tipoff slated for 12:30 p.m. PT at KeyArena.
Bird has captained Seattle to one of the best offenses in the WNBA in 2017. As of June 11, the team ranks in the top five in six offensive categories, including field goal percentage (47.2), three’s made per game (7.1) and field goals made per game (29.1). The Storm currently ranks third in the league in assists with 18.9 per game, and much of that success is due to Bird, who tallies a league-leading 6.7 dimes per affair.
In 15 games this season, Bird is averaging 10.5 points and shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. She boasts a 3.16 assist-to-turnover ratio and also has 15 steals. She needs only four more thefts to post her 600th-career takeaway and 319 more points to become the eighth player in WNBA history to eclipse the 6,000-point mark.
On June 11, Bird netted a season-high 21 points to go along with 10 assists to clinch her 22nd-career double-double. She’s scored in double figures in eight games this season and has dished out eight or more assists eighth times.
Since she joined the WNBA as a rookie out of Connecticut in 2002, Bird’s numbers, as well as her professional demeanor and leadership, have never seemed to falter, as she’s averaged 12.3 points and 5.4 assists per game since her rookie debut. She’s already notched multiple milestones in 2017, including her 2,500th-career assist to ride to 2,512 dimes in 462 career games. This season, Bird also passed Tina Thompson to climb to fourth for the most three’s made (765), and she needs only 88 more assists to pass Ticha Penicheiro and become the league’s all-time leader. At age 36, she is the oldest active player in the WNBA.