Sue Bird joins Seattle Storm ownership group after starring for WNBA team for 21 years

Sue Bird has joined the Seattle Storm ownership group after helping the team to four WNBA titles in 21 years from 2002-2021.

On Wednesday, team owners, Force 10 Hoops, said that the 43-year-old, 13-time All-Star joined the ownership group despite no financial details about the transaction being provided. 

Bird said in a team statement her involvement with the Storm will continue to grow the game.

'Investing in women's sports isn't just about passion,' she said. 'It's smart business.'

Business has been good for the Storm during Bird's nearly two decades as a player.

She was the No. 1 overall pick by Seattle in the 2002 WNBA draft out of UConn and played 19 seasons. 

She retired after the 2022 season as the league's career assists leader with 3,234. 

Bird was part of WNBA championships with the Storm in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020.

Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel said Bird's knowledge of the game and the league, plus her business acumen 'make her a superb addition,'

The ownership group recently opened the Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance, a new, $64million practice facility.

Bird, who's been engaged to former US women's national team star Megan Rapinoe since 2020, is also a part-owner of the New York-based National Women's Soccer League club, Gotham FC since 2022. 

The pair have been dating since they met at the 2016 Rio Olympics.