Sue Bird bids goodbye after final game against Seattle Storm – ‘I’m proud of everything we accomplished here’

SEATTLE – After playing her last game in the WNBA on Tuesday as Yoke eliminate she Storm from the knockout stages with a 97-92 win in Game 4 of the semi-final series, Sue Bird not sure how to feel when her career is coming to an end.

“I think I felt sad about the season and the game at first,” Bird said after the game. “Then I thought, when the emotions started to surface, that’s also what I knew deep down there, that was my last match. So it was a combination of those two, but but overall it feels a bit weird.”

A year after Storm fans chanted “Another year!” after being knocked out by Phoenix Mercury helped convince Bird to return for the 19th WNBA season, the sentiment being gratitude after this loss.

Initially, Bird headed towards the locker room with teammates and coach before changing direction and staying on the field. Hugged by all the members of the Las Vegas team and the coaching staff, Bird then acknowledged the crowd by raising her hand several times in a long round of applause until she finally made her way into the locker room.

“I really don’t want to leave the court,” Bird said. “It feels like that’s where everyone is going, so I just went along at first. But I also wanted to have a last moment to say thank you, to soak in it all, because according to some way, it’s a happy thing.

“I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved here. Of course I’m sad, but also happy, being able to have moments like that with the fans, for them to praise the way they did. I know. tears are not the same as happy tears, but there is a lot of happiness.”

Seattle coach Noelle Quinn, who played with Bird for Storm before becoming her coach, stayed in the arena to experience the match.

“I’m not here to see our last [regular] season playing and feeling that energy, so I wanted to stay and feel that today,” Quinn said. It’s amazing what she’s done for the city of Seattle, for this organization, and for this team.

“It’s tough not finishing this season with her white horse riding with the championship, but she’s won enough for both of us, so just being proud to be part of her journey that.”

Likewise, Bird’s All-Star teammates Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart lamented not being able to help her finish a storybook that ends with what she announced in June will be her final year.

“Obviously that’s disappointing, sad,” Loyd said of the team’s mood in the dressing room. “Less laughs. But I think for us we’ve been playing with Sue for too long – we’re the last three [left] since arrival. Obviously that’s not how we want it to end for her. Unfortunately, but it is so. “

Stewart came to terms with the idea that Bird would no longer be present in the daily group in the future.

“It’s sad that we don’t have the ability to compete for the championship,” said Stewart. “I think what’s worse is the fact that we won’t be playing with Sue anymore. We” will not meet. her in practice, we won’t play with her in games. I think that’s what gave her the most headache – it came true really quickly. “

Bird acknowledges the void that retirement will leave, saying she won’t even try to replicate the emotions playing the sport at the highest level two decades has brought.

However, when Bird went away after finishing with 46 assists and only six turns in six playoffs, there was no decision on her part a second time.

Bird said: “Of course my body feels good, that might fool you, but there’s a reason I feel comfortable and I feel confident as this is my final year. It can be said that it is a big obstacle. Once I jumped over that, I knew I did the right thing because of how I felt afterwards. “