WNBA Star Sue Bird Retires After 20 Years of Pro Basketball

In an emotional sendoff, WNBA star Sue Bird walked off the court for the last time as a player in the league. Bird, considered by many people to be one of the greatest players in WNBA history, left the court to applause and thousands of fans chanting "Thank you, Sue."

During the final interview of Bird's 20 year career, after the Seattle Storm was eliminated from the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, Bird, 40, told Holly Rowe how she was feeling. "Sad. Obviously so thankful for 20 years here. I'm gonna miss it so much. I'm not going anywhere but I'm gonna miss it," she said. "I wish we could have done a little bit more to get to the finals but I'm so proud of this team this year. I'm so, so, so proud to be a member of the Seattle Storm. It has been my honor to play for this franchise, to play for these fans. I don't know what else to say."

The Storm lost 97-92 in the tough Game 4 of the semifinal series. Bird initially walked with her team off the court before turning around and heading back out. During Bird's final WNBA postgame press conference, she said, "I didn't really want to leave the court. It felt like that's where everybody was going, so I just followed at first. But I also wanted to have one last moment to say thank you, to soak it all in, because in some ways it is a happy thing."

Not too long after the loss, Bird said she's still trying to figure out how she's really feeling meeting the end of her career. Bird and her team hoped to end her final season with another WNBA title, which would have been her fifth, but couldn't defeat the Aces. "I think initially I felt sad about the season and the game. I then think, as the emotions started to come to the surface, that's also what I know deep down in that, that was my last game," she explained. "So it was a combination of those two things, but overall it just feels kind of weird."

Back in June, Bird announced on her Instagram page that this would be her last year in the league. She captioned the post, "I’ve decided this will be my final year. I have loved every single minute, and still do, so gonna play my last year just like this little girl played her first ☺️ #TheFinalYear."

Comments on the post were supportive, with some asking for more time.

"Sue you've been a great player for a long time. All of your teammates now have to be #SUEPERSTARS to give you a proper send off."

"10 more years!"

"another icon dropping the 🎤 congrats on a phenomenal career Sue,..will absolutely miss you !!💙💪🏼💪🏼🏀🐐"

"I would love to read an biography from you too 🙏 I also loved all the advice how to keep your performance during the last years."

"Thank you for bringing so much to the game and changing the game for the better. That little girl who played her first game gave hope to so many other little girls to play their first game. Going to miss you!!!"

"Congratulations on a great career. Wish I would have had the chance to see you play in real life. ✌️🐐"

"Sueper Bird is a legend 🥰"

When asked what legacy she leaves behind, Bird replied, "I hope the next person that comes in and plays point guard here, just keeps the tradition going. Keep the winning going. Keep that championship level going. Keep these fans happy. Same thing goes for the rest of the team as well, but I hope I made everybody in here proud." As she walked off the court for the last time, she high-fived fans as they took photos and chanted "Thank you, Sue" over and over.