SEATTLE — Next to Climate Pledge Arena where her No. 10 Storm jersey hangs in the rafters, Seattle officially renamed a street in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood in honor of its favorite former WNBA star, Sue Bird.

Beneath overcast skies at a private ceremony Monday morning, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the city changed a section of 2nd Avenue North, on the southeast end of the arena, to Sue Bird Court.

“We are cementing her legacy into the very fabric of Seattle and that’s why this is more than symbolism,” Harrell said to a small crowd that included Storm owners Dawn Trudeau, Ginny Gilder and Lisa Brummel and Bird’s fiancé, former soccer star Megan Rapinoe. “We honor you not just for your records, but for your relentless pursuit of excellence in everything that you do.

“Renaming this street is in honor of that kind relentless, that kind of heart and that kind of commitment.”

The 43-year-old Bird, who played 19 seasons, spent her entire 21-year WNBA career with the Storm — she sat out two years because of injuries — where she became one of the greatest athletes in Seattle sports history.

During her illustrious two decades with the Storm, Bird, the No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick in 2002, captured four league titles. The 13-time WNBA All-Star retired in 2022 and ranks first in league history in assists (3,234) and games played (580).

She’s also the franchise leader in points (6,803) and steals (724).

“You don’t grow up thinking about these types of things,” Bird said. “You grow up wanting to make your varsity team, wanting to get the scholarship or getting drafted — all of these little milestones along the way. It’s not until later when you have an understanding of what could be.

“Especially, for a woman in sports, this isn’t commonplace. You’re starting to see … these things celebrated more. I didn’t know it was possible and that’s actually what makes this more special. I wasn’t expecting it. But now, like Mayor Harrell said, there might be a young girl who sees a street sign or a poster or mural and they might actually dream about that.”

The Syosset, N.Y., native, who calls Seattle her adoptive hometown, joined the Storm’s ownership group in April.

“I do find it hard to fully express what I mean when I say this city is a part of me,” Bird said. “I almost get choked up. This city is a part of me and I’m a part of it. … What I’ve learned in my retirement is as time goes, this will always be special for the city and the fan base this relationship and what we shared, but ultimately it will probably be more special to me.

“I do feel like I grew up here in a lot of ways. I doubt I’ll ever sell my home here. Even if it isn’t the main home. I always want to be connected and I always want to have roots here.”

The post-retirement accolades continue to pile for Bird, who is eligible for induction in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026. Harrell hinted the city is considering building a Bird statue outside Climate Pledge Arena.

“I don’t want to start rumors, but that’s in the realm of possibilities,” he said.

Bird is the third Seattle sports athlete to have a street named in their honor in recent years, joining Mariners great Edgar Martinez and Sonics legend Lenny Wilkens.

Monday’s ceremony capped a celebratory weekend for Bird who watched the Reign retire Rapinoe’s No. 15 jersey on Sunday at Lumen Field.

“For both me and Megan, we don’t always have a true understanding of the “power couple” or the impact,” Bird said. “Sometimes you zoom out and you see it or you feel it or you maybe have an interaction with somebody. But it’s weekends like this for both of us where we’re like whoa, ‘We did a lot of cool (expletive).’ Or we won a lot. … It’s nice to take time to celebrate those things.

“When you’re in the career, when you’re in it, trying to do the thing and win the thing, you can kind of lose focus (because) you’re so zoomed in. When you zoom out and take a minute or have a weekend like this when you’re celebrated to share it with city, but for me and Megan we also get to share it together.”

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