With the Seattle Storm withdrawing Wednesday night to defeat the Las Vegas Aces 88-78, the Seattle guard, So Birdrecorded her 324th career win and became the most winning player in league history, according to ESPN Statistics and Information research.
Bird, who announced earlier this month that this would be his last season in the WNBA, outplayed the retired base. Lindsey Wallen (323). Bird and Whalen are the only players in league history to have at least 300 wins. Rebecca Bronson s SwinCashthe last to play four seasons in Seattle with Bird, tied for third with a score of 294.
As all these players divide their careers between multiple teams, Bird has an even greater advantage Diana Taurasi of Phoenix Mercury (279) for most wins with one WNBA franchise.
“It’s amazing,” said Storm coach Noel Quinn, who played with Bird before retiring and joining the team’s coaching staff. “You’d probably say that because she’s older. That’s always the answer. Just the incredible longevity of a female player to have such an impact on the game.”
“It’s not just Sue’s assists, she makes big plays, big shots. I think she played a great defense tonight. Those intangibles that she brings, but also: She’s GOAT, she’s a great player with a long career and she deserves every record he’s about. Breaking down because he’s played for 20 years.
In fact, Byrd played down the achievement, as she did when she became the all-time WNBA leader in games and minutes played, joining her record assists in 2017, as a culmination of the 19 seasons she has played since. He was drafted by No. 1 Seattle of Connecticut in 2002. She noted that Whalen held the record in just a few matches (480 to Bird’s 564).
Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, who was playing for rival New York Liberty in Bird’s WNBA debut (losing Storm), gave more credit to Bird.
“He says he’s been in a lot of good teams for a long time,” Hammon said. “She’s always the head of the snake, I mean that in a good way. She is who she is for a reason. She does the right play over and over, whatever it is.”
Seattle strong fourth quarter, fueled by 11 points of Joel Lloyd and eight of Brianna Stewart Storm’s debut overtook the former WNBA MVP, Tina Charles. Charles, who signed with Seattle as a free agent on Tuesday after reaching a buyout deal with Mercury, came off the bench for the first time in his WNBA career.
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Charles has started more games to start his career (373) than any other player in league history before coming off the bench for the first time. Charles was bested by his former teammate Simone Augustus, who started her first 363 games before coming off the bench in 2019.
Charles had 4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 16 minutes on his debut.
Ultimately, the night belonged to Bird, whose mentor was much bigger than his 13 points and six assists in 25 minutes.
Lloyd summed it up: “She’s a winner.”