Following a historic playing career with the Seattle Storm, Sue Bird is re-joining the franchise, this time as a member of the organization’s ownership group.
The Storm announced the news Wednesday but did not disclose Bird’s stake in the franchise.
“As a player, I poured my heart into every game for the Seattle Storm, and now, as part of the ownership group, I am thrilled to continue contributing to the growth of the game,” Bird said in a statement. “Investing in women’s sports isn’t just about passion; it’s smart business. It’s about recognizing the immense talent, dedication, and market potential our league has always had. Force 10 Hoops and the Storm have been at the forefront of this for decades. Together, we’re not just shaping the future of basketball, but also paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive society.”
The Storm’s ownership group, Force 10 Hoops, has been led by Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder and Dawn Trudeau. Brummel said in a statement that the franchise was “thrilled” to welcome Bird into the ownership ranks. Brummel added: “Her knowledge of the game and the league, her ever-expanding business acumen, and her dedication to the Storm organization, make her a superb addition to the ownership group.”
The Storm were one of the league’s top franchises throughout Bird’s tenure. The No. 1 pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft, Bird played the entirety of her WNBA career with the franchise, winning four championships as its point guard. Bird retired in 2022 as the WNBA’s all-time assist leader (3,234 assists). She has been honored on each of the WNBA’s milestone teams and won five Olympic gold medals during her playing days.
Before the 2023 season, the Storm were named as the league’s most valuable team, with a $151 million valuation. It was the league’s highest valuation of a WNBA franchise to date, though numbers are historically difficult to find.
Last week, Seattle unveiled its new $64 million basketball performance center. Having spent the past decade-plus practicing on the campus of Seattle Pacific University, the Storm became only the second WNBA team with a dedicated facility solely for their use. “Everything is set up so that you can focus on your desire to become the best athlete you can be,” Gilder told The Athletic last week.
Added star point guard Jewell Loyd: “I told (head coach Noelle Quinn) from day one, I want to have an edge. What’s our edge? This is an edge. Other teams don’t have this. They don’t have the accessibility that we do. We’re going to use that.”
Bird’s addition is the latest announcement in a busy offseason for the Storm. In free agency, they signed former league MVP Nneka Ogwumike and six-time All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith. WNBA training camp begins Sunday with Seattle’s first preseason game set for May 5.
While it is significant Bird is joining the Storm’s ownership group, she is also already an investor in a professional women’s sports franchise. In July 2022, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that Bird had become a minority investor in the club.
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