The 'Sue' Storm

Sue Bird has had an great career, to say the least. She was the New York State POY in high school and carried this prowess to the powerhouse University of Connecticut. As a Huskie she dominated the NCAA as the focal point on a star-studded squad on a championship team in 2002 winning the Naismith Award as well as the Nancy Lieberman Award (X3) in an undefeated season. She represented her country in an unprecedented gold medal tear in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. She took her talents professionally as the first pick to the Seattle Storm franchise, winning the WNBA Championship in 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020. I had the privilege to watch her semifinal performance at the newly designed Climate Pledge Arena against the Las Vegas Aces. A slow start burdened the Storm struggled to stop Kelsey Plum (the other Huskie) from getting to the basket. A 15 point Aces lead whittled to 8 at halftime, but the likes of Brianna Stewart and Jewell Lloyd kept them in the game, closing the gap to even in the 3rd. Timely 3's from Talbot and the Aja Wilson consistency created a back and forth through 4th. 2.7 left and they go to their leader, Birdie, and down 1 they find her in the corner to sink the shot of her life. .8 seconds left the Aces spread the floor and find Jackie Young under the basket for a catch and shoot layup to tie the game. OT, and the Storm wind was taken out of their sails, and the clouds gathered as the fans mourned in a devastating 12 point loss. I was utterly impressed by the speed and style of my first WNBA game and as Title IX has bridged the gap between men and women, because of icons like Sue Bird, the sport will draw eyes and attention in the future.