Three short words on .’s Instagram account So Bird On Friday they answered one of the biggest questions of the 2022 season of WNBA: Will the legendary Seattle Storm star return for the 19th season in the WNBA at the age of 41?

On Friday morning, Bird posted a video of fans chanting “Another year” during his interview ESPN After losing last season in the playoff against Phoenix Mercury. Flying comment: “Good. Vamooooos.”

In September, Bird was evasive about her future in the WNBA for the first time. Although retirement has been an issue with Bird for years, the historic leader in the league was previously unsure whether she would continue playing if she was physically able to do so.

“I was actually trying to get rid of these thoughts,” Bird told reporters after the match. “The minute I allow myself to think about it, it makes me want to cry. This is the first time I feel like I have to weigh it. I usually say, ‘No, another year if I feel good, I’ll be there.’

“This is the first time I have to really sit down, see how I feel, and think about a few things. I know for sure I want the excitement of the season to subside. I don’t want to make an emotional decision.”

Bird has admitted his desire to complete his career at Climate Pledge Arena, Storm’s new home in Seattle after a complete renovation of KeyArena, where the team played during 2018. While completing renovations, Storm played last season in. Angel of the Winds Arena in the nearby town of Everett.

In October, Bird was a special guest when the NHL expansion team Seattle Kraken played their inaugural game at Climate Pledge Arena. Two days later, Bird referred to that experience as part of her decision-making process when she appeared in the ManningCast of ESPN During a Seattle Seahawks Monday night football game.

“We just opened a new arena here in Seattle, and I just happened to be there to start a kraken. And… it was tempting. The ideas of playing there were very tempting. I’ll do it. I leave you with that,” Bird said.

The team’s return to Uptown Seattle puts Bird’s career back where it began. She played her first WNBA meet at KeyArena as Storm’s first overall pick in the 2002 draw. Bird helped the franchise win four championships, most recently during the 2020 Bubble or “Wubble” season in Bradenton, Florida, as well as the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup last year.

At the age of 40, Bird remained one of the WNBA’s top guards in 2021, making his 12th All-Star appearance, a record, averaging 10.0 points and 5.3 assists playing in 30 of Seattle’s 32 games during the regular season. She also guided the US women’s team to the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, the fifth gold medal in basketball that she and her teammate have branded, Diana Taurasi.

Although Storm shared Friday’s announcement on social media, Bird is technically an unrestricted free agent. Teams and players cannot start negotiating new contracts until January 15, and these contracts cannot be formally signed until January 1. February.

And also the All-Stars team from Seattle, Joel Lloyd s Briana StewartThey will also be unrestricted free agents unless the team chooses to use the nuclear designation on one of them. Bird does not qualify for a nuclear rating because she was already a nuclear player a maximum of two times.