Sue Bird is a well-known American professional basketball player who played for the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Seattle Storm (WNBA).
In terms of accomplishments, she is a three-time WNBA Champion after being associated with the Storm. She also owns four FIBA World Cup titles, four Olympic gold medals, and is a five-time EuroLeague champion. Now, scroll down to see her top 100 quotations.
“The one thing you learn is that stepping out of your comfort zone and being uncomfortable allows you to realize what you’re made of and who you are.”
“Usually men, usually a guy, a casual NBA fan and then a WNBA fan, their impulse is quick to kind of size us up or put themselves against us.”
“When I turned 30, the first question I was asked was, ‘How long do you want to play?’
And I don’t see why it shouldn’t be when you’re 40.
I honestly don’t.”“During the college recruitment process, my high school class was the first to know there was a possibility to play professional basketball, that the WNBA existed, and that I needed to pick a school that would help me reach to the next level.”
“You have control over what you put into your body, how you care for yourself, and how much you work.”
“You must control what you can.”“The reality is that women’s basketball players compete against other women.
And we’re all in the same boat, just like men’s sports.”“When I was in elementary and middle school in the United States, there was no professional basketball for me.”
I could watch the Olympics and college basketball, but they were only available on TV during the Final Four.”“When you’re up 2-0, you know teams are going to be desperate.”
“Basketball is a short season, and you have to make the most of it.”
Sue Bird Quote 10 of 100
“Obviously, skill speaks for itself, but you have to go in there and play well.”
You’ve got to play your game, but in some ways, that’s the easy part.”“A lot of the time, that’s how the WNBA is.”
It is being in the right place at the right moment and playing a specific role.
We are all role actors in some way, shape, or form.
We must do what our teams require of us.”“We’re going to take a break.
It’s coming: that breakthrough that will make us cool, and more people will want to be a part of it.
Because, to me, that’s the only thing we’re missing: that social aspect: ‘It’s cool to go to a WNBA game.'”“Be gentle.
Take care of yourself.
It’s okay if you miss a shot.”“Homophobia is detrimental to our league.”
Racism harmed it.
Sexism is detrimental.”“Soccer was originally my first love, but basketball finally took over.”
“I can look after myself.
You’ll probably never know if something horrible is going on in my life.
“I believe I was just born that way.”“Everyone has a journey in life, even me.”
“I’m a little bashful and quiet.”
“You owe it to yourself as an athlete, as a free agent, to investigate your possibilities.”
“It can be frustrating when you’re losing and then losing again, and you’re losing 3… 4… 5 games in a row.”
“You hear about players who are continuously giving back, like Jamal Crawford.
Isaiah Thomas, who is from Tacoma, went to U-Dub and is always giving back to the community.”“Everyone has a different idea of what Israel is and what it stands for.
And, certainly, there are military personnel everywhere, but there is so much more.”“Visiting Jerusalem was an incredible experience…
I spent the majority of my time in Tel Aviv.
Gorgeous.”“I’m a worrier, an overthinker, and a three-time WNBA champion if that’s your thing.”
“I adore sneakers.”
“My storage room is 75% footwear.”“For all intents and purposes, I’ve always felt like I’m out.”
So I always thought, ‘Why does writing it in an article or expressing it in an article make me gay?’
That does not determine if I am gay or not.
I’m enjoying my life.
I’m not lying; I’m not hiding it.”“You kind of say, ‘Well, straight people don’t have to come out,'” she says.
Now I realize that’s not always the best way to look at things.”“I hope that just by becoming older, I’ll be a smarter basketball player than I was at 23.”
“The WNBA transformed everything.”
It all began in 1997, and I graduated high school in 1998.”“A young basketball player might look up to and mimic others.
We are a professional league that is broadcast on television.
It does make a difference.
It demonstrates what is possible.”“There have been so many stories in the league about teams that began off poorly and ended up in the Finals.”
Or teams that start off strong but fail to make the playoffs.”“Every great team has failed at some point in order to succeed.”
Sue Bird Quote 33 of 100
“All of the teams in this league that have won many titles did not win right away.
It’s often necessary to accept those blows in order to realize what it takes to win.”“You can go 1-4 as rapidly as you can go 4-1.”
And the overall goal is to avoid going too high or too low.
It’s one thing to tell someone and explain it, but it’s quite another to truly believe it, to have felt it, and to comprehend what it means to maintain equilibrium.
That’s what it takes to play in this league.”“You’re the standout player at some high schools, and everything swirls around you.”
“I’ve always played in a team setting.”
“I went to a New York City high school, but I wouldn’t call myself a New York City child.”
But I’ve always played against city kids.
So that instills something in you.”“When you’re a point guard, dude, you’re in a lot of trouble if you’re not up to standard.”
“Russia is my favorite country.”
“I’m not feeling this overpowering need to play or’make money.'”
That is not my driving motivation.”“A lot of our players, if you ask them, feel obligated to play overseas.”
Why?
‘What’s the harm?
‘I’d better do it while I can.’
For a while, I felt that way: I need to make as much money as possible.
Do I think I could still play overseas?
Absolutely.
But I no longer feel that pressure.”“I don’t consider myself a sneakerhead.
I believe I am someone who prefers to wear excellent shoes while playing.”“I definitely believe in the ‘look good, feel good’ concept when it comes to playing and getting out there.”
“I really like the Kyrie shoe.”
“I enjoy Air Max 90s; they’re usually my go-to shoes.”
I believe they may be worn with jeans, sweatpants, or anything else.”“I don’t consider myself to be so private.
I’m aware that’s how people have described me.
That’s OK.”“‘The Body Issue’ celebrates athletes’ bodies of all sizes and forms…
It’s a celebration for me, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”“It’s not that a lot of players don’t want to play anymore, or that they become tired or bored of it.
It’s because their bodies fail.”“I call Seattle home.”
“I am overjoyed to be returning to the Storm.”
This franchise and city have been extremely supportive of my career, and I am excited to return back to work with my colleagues.”“Will you be a gunner?”
Me?
I don’t think I’ll be able to do it.
But I’ll go for whoever holds the assist record.”“New York is like a melting pot: there are so many different individuals and cultures.”
“I prefer not having to glance to see where my teammates are.”
“I’d welcome another opportunity to represent my country in the Olympics.”
If I’m in good health…
When it comes to setting goals, I’m pretty pragmatic.
“I believe it will all be determined by my health.”“I’m unquestionably a ‘comfort’ player.”
As a point guard, I try to get to know my teammates, to feel connected to them, and to flow with them.”“I was probably 7 or 8 years old when I went to see the Bulls play and saw Michael Jordan.”
“Whether I retire tomorrow or in 20 years, I just want to get as much out of life as possible.”
But I also understand that basketball will not last forever.”“There’s something appealing about being a part of a pioneering organization.”
It’s difficult to see myself in that light because I see Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoops, Rebecca Lobo, and Dawn Staley in that light.”
Sue Bird Quote #59 of 100
“I always assumed that front office work, being with the team day in and day out, was something I wouldn’t get to until I was finished.”
“I’ve been very lucky to be able to go, and it’s exciting.”
You’re on your way to the White House.
I recall stepping into the room to meet President Obama for the first time, and the aura…
It’s completely ridiculous.”“I’ve had maybe ten surgeries in my life: four or five on my knee, hip, and a couple of times on my nose.”
“I believe that when you have surgery, your body transforms.
And with that, it’s likely to be the most difficult mental struggle you’ll face.”“I thought basketball and soccer were difficult.
Following that, I went to track practice.
It’s all just running, running, running.
My event was the 400-meter hurdles.
I eventually qualified for state.
Track, on the other hand, was difficult.”“I’ve never felt more nervous as I did before a track meet – literally, my stomach went nuts – because it was so difficult.”
“The one thing I’ve really noticed in my personal experience is that when a woman reacts to something thrilling, people comment, ‘Oh, that’s a masculine way of behaving.’
That, to me, is ludicrous.
It’s almost as if humans get aroused, and then they yell, jump, and flex.
That’s what you’re good at.”“When you get to camp for your first year, whatever team takes you, there’s going to be a lot of skill in that gym.”
You’re going to walk into a gym, and there’s going to be a lot of talent.”“I’m not a good one-on-one competitor.”
“Ten years from now, we’ll be remembered as the first gay couple featured in ESPN’s ‘The Body Issue.'”
You might not comprehend the impact of anything like that at the time.
When you talk to individuals and hear their emotions, you never know if you helped someone.”“At the end of the day, you have to prioritize yourself.”
“Women’s basketball players, in my opinion, are an underutilized resource.”
Sue Bird Quote 71 of 100
“Because basketball is basketball, having a players’ perspective is crucial from a strategic aspect.”
“I’ve been on really talented teams that simply don’t click, and I’ve also been on teams with a little less talent, but they clicked, and they did better than other talented teams I’ve been on.”
“As a player, when I hear the word’scout,’ I normally think, ‘The Seattle Storm are playing the Los Angeles Sparks tomorrow; the assistant coaches are scouting the Los Angeles Sparks.’
Then they come to us with a scouting report on the players and squad.”“I think it would be crazy for a coach not to question a player with that sort of information about other players when you’ve been in a league for as long as I have.”
Much of this extends beyond the court.
Is this person a good teammate?
Are they effective in the locker room?
What is their demeanor like?
“Do they put in any effort?”“People continue to dismiss our league.
It’s because we’re female; that’s the battle.
The other battle involves a majority of black women.
However, we fully represent America.
And it’s strange to me that people would refuse to support it.
“I don’t understand.”“I’ve applied for Israeli citizenship, which will make playing abroad a little easier.”
“People have been asking me since I was five if we’re connected.
It is usually the third question in the series.
What is your given name?
Bird, Sue
What are you going to do?
I enjoy basketball.
Do you have any kinship with Larry Bird?
That’s the way it goes.
I suppose it could be worse, given that he is a legend and all.”“In the past, I’ve requested DVDs, such as box sets of whole series.
They can be fantastic when you’re abroad and don’t have anything else to do.”“I’m gay.
Megan is my girl…
People who know me are aware of these facts.
I don’t feel as if I haven’t lived my life.
People assume that if you’re not talking about it, you’re hiding it, as if it’s some sort of secret.
That was never my experience.”“As for Seattle, there is no doubt that we are rebuilding.
And it’s not simple to rebuild in the WNBA.
Millions cannot be dangled in front of great free agents.”“I’ve grown really severe in many areas, but I’m also extremely lenient.”
“I’m gentle with myself.”“I believe as a kid coming out of college, you just kind of go with the flow.”
You don’t really comprehend what’s going on around you because you’re just out there playing basketball, but now that I’m older and can see how far the league has come in my 15 years, it’s pretty wonderful to have seen it.”“I’m not a fan of rookie hazing.”
I didn’t want to be hazed as a beginner, and I certainly didn’t want to haze others.”“There’s something about powerful teams that piques the interest of fans.”
People enjoy seeing this; they enjoy witnessing dominance.”“I think it’s difficult to compare the NBA and the WNBA, but the NBA has a lot of mobility every year, but the WNBA doesn’t.”
Free agency is not built up that way; clearly, the money is not set up that way, so when one player departs, it might set the stage for the next six or seven years.”“I think the name ‘The Storm’ has just grown throughout Seattle generally.”
The fact that we have a WNBA team here is no longer an afterthought: it has become a part of the ‘fabric’ of our sports community.”“I was born and raised in New York.”
“Jay-Z will always be my fave for a variety of reasons.”
But, in terms of music, I like hip-hop, but I enjoy a wide range of genres.
The one genre I don’t particularly enjoy is country, but I adore everything else.”“A lot of my friends were Pearl Jam fans, so anytime I’d hang out with them, that was typically what CD – not album – was playing – back then, it was what CD, maybe even tape, but what CD was playing.”
“I’m not sure I’m as conservative as I’m depicted.”
“These days, the gap between athletes is so small that if you can obtain an edge, why not take it?”
“I absolutely consume carbohydrates.”
I repeat: I eat carbohydrates.
I just pick and choose which carbs I eat and when.
I don’t eat stuff like spaghetti and bread at night, but carbs are fantastic for feeding and recovering from workouts.”
Sue Bird Quote No. 93 of 100
“I eat only anti-inflammatory foods like vegetables, eggs, chicken, and fish.”
I will eat red meat, but only on occasion.”“A blood flow restriction system for my legs is something I’ve started to utilize virtually every day.”
It helps with healing and strength.”“I don’t eat dairy, and I’ve been gluten-free since a blood test revealed that I have a slight gluten allergy.”
“I’m a strong believer in taking care of oneself.”
“My favorite vacations have always been in Hawaii.”
“I believe I’d prefer to live in Israel.”
Even for someone like myself who isn’t particularly religious, going to Israel is spectacular in many respects.”“I read ‘Twilight’ while abroad.
I truly enjoyed it.
I didn’t expect to like it because fantasy is normally not my thing because it’s so far-fetched, but I did.
It’s quite good.”“I’m probably the most nosy person you’ll ever meet.”
Not in a mean way, but I prefer to be informed.”
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