Sue Bird Quotes

I’ve never felt as nervous as I did before a track meet – literally, stomach going crazy – ’cause it was just so difficult.

There was no professional basketball for me in the United States when I was in grade school and middle school. I could look to the Olympics and college basketball, but that was only on TV for the Final Four.

The WNBA changed everything. It started in 1997, and I graduated from high school in 1998.

My best vacations have been in Hawaii.

I think when you‘re a kid coming out of college, you’re just kinda going with the flow. You don’t really understand what’s happening around you – you’re just out there playing basketball – but now that I’m older and I see where the league has come in my 15 years, it’s pretty cool to have witnessed it.

There’s been so many stories throughout the league where teams have started off poorly and ended up in the Finals. Or teams starting out great and not making the playoffs.

I think, overall, the name ‘The Storm‘ in Seattle has just continued to grow. It has now become not just an afterthought that we have a WNBA team here: it has become a part of the ‘fabric‘ of our sports society.

For a lot of players, it’s not that they don’t want to play anymore or that they get tired of it or bored of it. It’s that their bodies give out.

Whether I retire tomorrow or in 20 years, I just want to get as much out as I can. But with that, I have an understanding that basketball’s not forever.

In the past, I’ve told people to get me DVDs: like, the box sets of entire series. When you’re overseas and there isn’t much else to do, they can be great.

I really subscribe to the ‘look good, feel good’ mantra in terms of playing, in terms of getting out there.

I’m a big fan of the Kyrie shoe.

I stick with all anti-inflammatory foods: tons of veggies, eggs, chicken, and fish. I will have some red meat, but only every now and then.

I can be quiet and a little shy.

Whenever you go up 2-0, you understand that teams are going to be desperate.

I’m a big proponent of taking care of yourself.

Homophobia hurts our league. Racism hurts it. Sexism hurts it.

People continue to put our league down. It’s because we’re women; that’s the fight. And it’s a majority of black women; that’s the other fight. But we represent America to the fullest. And it’s weird to me that people wouldn’t want to support that. I don’t get it.

Ten years from now, we’ll still be talked about as the first gay couple that ESPN had in ‘The Body Issue.’ You might not realize, in the moment, the impact that something like that can have. Every now and then, when you talk to people and hear the reactions, maybe we helped somebody.

When I turned 30, the first question I got was, ‘How much longer do you want to play?’ And I don’t see why that can’t be when you turn 40. I really don’t.

I don’t really see myself as a sneakerhead. I think I’m someone that likes to have a nice pair of shoes on when they’re playing.

I’ve become really strict in a lot of ways, but I’m also very lenient. I’m kind to myself.

I love sneakers. My storage room is 75 percent sneakers.

Nowadays, the difference between athletes is really small, and if you can get an edge, why not take it.

Since I’ve been five, people asked me if we’re related. It is usually the third question in the line of questions. What’s your name? Sue Bird. Oh, what do you do? I play basketball. Are you related to Larry Bird? That’s how it goes. I guess it could be worse, though, since he is a legend and all.

Jay-Z, for a lot of reasons, will always be my favorite. But actually, in terms of what I listen to, it bends towards hip-hop, but I like everything. The only thing I don’t really love is country, but everything else I’m a huge fan of.

I guess, technically, I went to a New York City high school, but I wouldn’t call myself a New York City kid. But I’ve played against city kids all my life. So that kind of instills something in you.

At the end of the day, you have to put yourself first.

I’d love to have another chance to represent my country in the Olympics. If I’m healthy, absolutely… I’m very realistic when it comes to goals. I think it will all depend on my health.

You hear about players like Jamal Crawford who‘s constantly giving back. Isaiah Thomas, even though he’s from Tacoma, he went to U-Dub, and he’s constantly giving back to the community.

I think it’s hard to compare the NBA and the WNBA, but the thing about the NBA is they just have a ton of movement every year, but the WNBA doesn’t. Free agency is not set up that way; the money is obviously not set up that way, so when one player moves, it could set the stage for, literally, like, six or seven years.

As for Seattle, we are rebuilding – no doubt about it. And in the WNBA, it’s not easy to rebuild. You can’t dangle millions in front of quality free agents.

You kinda say, ‘Well, straight people don’t have to come out.’ I understand now that’s not necessarily the right way to look at it.

I think I’d really like to live in Israel. Even for someone like myself who is not that into religion, you go to Israel, and it’s breathtaking in a lot of ways.

New York is like a melting pot: so many different people, so many different cultures.

Going to Jerusalem was an amazing experience… I spent most of my time in Tel Aviv. Gorgeous.

I think when you go through any surgery, your body changes. And with that, it can be probably the toughest mental challenge you’re gonna face.

I definitely eat carbs. I repeat: I do eat carbs. I’m just selective on which carbs I eat and when. I won‘t eat things like pasta and bread at night, but in terms of fueling a workout and recovering from one, carbs are great.

I’ve always played in a team atmosphere.

Be kind. Be nice to yourself. You miss a shot, it’s OK.

My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the option to play professional basketball, to know that the WNBA was there, and to know I better pick a school that is going to help me get to the next level.

There’s something about dominant teams that draws fans in. People like to see this; they like to witness dominance.

I’ve had, like, 10 surgeries in my life: four or so on my knee, my hip and my nose a couple of times.

The reality is, like, women’s basketball players are playing against women. And we’re all in the same boat the same way men’s sports is.

In my mind, women’s basketball players are an untapped resource.