Sue Bird and her fiance Megan Rapinoe are a new hope if you are a sports geek and hopeless romantic.
Love can be defined from many perspectives, but for Megan and Rapione, it’s purity and support.
So, who is Megan Rapione’s to-be wife, Sue Bird? Sue is one of the best WNBA basketball players and a phenomenal person.
The American-Israeli professional basketball player Sue Bird was drafted by the Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft.
Furthermore, Sue is the only WNBA player to win a WNBA championship in three decades.
Moreover, she claimed her fifth Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. This victory made her one of only two Olympic basketball players of either gender to win five gold medals.
Sue Bird’s life and career are beautiful to look at and be inspired by at the same time. Hence, before diving into details, here are some quick facts about the WNBA legend.
Sue Bird | Quick Facts
| Full Name | Suzanne Brigit Bird |
| Date of Birth | October 16, 1980 |
| Birth Place | Syosset, New York |
| Age | 41 |
| Nationality | American/Israeli |
| Ethnicity | Russian-Jewish |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Height | 5ft 9in |
| Weight | 68kg |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Father’s Name | Herschel Bird |
| Mother’s Name | Nancy Bird |
| Siblings | One sister, Jen |
| Marital Status | Engaged |
| Girlfriend | Megan Rapinoe |
| Education | High School: Syosset (Syosset, New York), Christ The King
College: Connecticut (1998-2002) |
| WNBA Draft | 2002 / Round 1
Pick: 1st overall by the Seattle Storm |
| Profession | Basketball player |
| League | WNBA |
| Career History | 2002-present Seattle Storm
2004-2006 Dynamo Moscow 2006-2011 Spartak Moscow Region 2011-2014 UMMC Ekaterinburg |
| Position | Point Guard |
| Olympic Wins | 5 Gold medals |
| Net Worth | $8 million |
| Salary | $72,141 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube |
| Merch | |
| Last Update | March 2022 |
Sue Bird | Early Life & Childhood
The WNBA legend Sue Bird was born in Syosset, Nassau County, New York, on October 16, 1980.
She was born to Herschel Bird and Nancy Bird. Interestingly, Bird’s father, Herschel, is Russian-Jewish, and their original last name was “Boorda.”
Furthermore, she has been an Israeli citizen since 2006 from her Jewish father and paternal grandparents.
Similarly, Sue has always been athletically driven, thanks to her older sister, Jennifer. Sue’s sister Jen is five years older than her and was involved in sports.
Thus, at a very young age of seven, she was interested in basketball, and during the sixth grade, Sue joined her first AAU team.
Moreover, she completed high school at Christ of King, known for its outstanding basketball teams. So, Bird won several state championships and national titles and was undefeated in her second season.
Age, Height & Weight
The 5 ft 9 in tall Sue Bird is considered one of the greatest players in WNBA history.
The dark-haired, brown-eyed woman has an athletic build and weighs 68 kg. Moreover, the point guard of the Seattle Storm mainly ties her curly hair in a sleek ponytail.
Furthermore, her flushed cheeks compliment her fair skin on game time. Not to mention her athletic poise is one of the best scenarios.
Megan Rapinoe’s Fiancee, Sue Bird, is WNBA Sensation
As mentioned earlier, the American-Israeli professional basketball player started her WNBA journey in 2002.
However, her love for basketball started at a very young age of seven. Thus, at only 11 years old, she played halftime of a St. John’s basketball game. Her game was impressive; she lured a security guard to ask for her autograph.
Similarly, Bird spent two seasons at Christ the King in her junior year.
Likewise, Bird remained undefeated in the second season and won the New York state championship. She won several awards, including New York State Player of the Year.
Similarly, she also participated in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America Game and scored 11 points.
College Career
Despite having many options, Sue Bird considered the University of Connecticut as it was close to home.
Although Bird was intimidated by Keirsten Walters and Brianne Stepherson’s commitment to UConn, she suffered a torn ACL after eight games into her freshman season.
Likewise, in her sophomore season, Bird hopped back to lead the team to 36-Similarly in her junior season, she lost to the Huskies only to get revenge in her senior season with a 39-0 record.
Sue also won the Wade Trophy, Honda Sports Award, and Naismith Award the same season.
Moreover, Sue played a game against Notre Dame, considered the best women’s basketball game ever. Hence, the game was immortalized in a book, Bird at the Buzzer.
Moreover, Bird concluded her college career with a remarkable 114-4.
2002 Draft & Rookie Years
After a monumental college career, the Seattle Storm selected Bird with the first overall pick of the 2002 WNBA draft.
She started all 32 games for the Storm during her rookie season and averaged 14.4 points per game.
Sue became the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award. She was one of only two rookies to make the ALL WNBA First Team. She scored a career-high 33 points in a regular-season game against the Portland Fire during her first year.
Feeling sentimental 🥺@S10Bird I #TheFinalYear pic.twitter.com/n07tsDe0HT
— TOGETHXR (@togethxr) June 16, 2022
Bird’s second championship in the Storm, she had one of the most monumental moments in WNBA playoff history. She had scored a game-winning three-pointer against Phoenix Mercury with two seconds left in Game 2.
Bird played 29 games during the 2012 WNBA regular seasons and playoffs despite having problems with her knees.
Moreover, Sue had knee surgery, preventing her from playing the entire 2013 season.
Her bounce back for the 2014 WNBA season was spectacular. She averaged 10.6 ppg and 4.6 APG. That year, She was also voted as the WNBA all-star.
Similarly, Sue Bird re-signed with the Storm in free agency and averaged 12.8 PPG – she shot a career-high in 3-point field goal percentage, which was her best number since her knee surgery in the 2013 season.
Injuries & Missed Opportunities
Unfortunately, Bird underwent left knee surgery in April 2017. As a result, she missed training camp and was ultimately ruled out indefinitely.
While Bird’s season debut in 2017 made her the oldest active player in the WNBA. She was voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star, making the tenth all-star game appearance.
In the 2018 season, Bird became the Storm’s all-time leading scorer after scoring 21 points in a 97-91 victory game over the Washington Mystics.
Bird missed the 2019 season because of her knee surgery. In 2020, a global pandemic delayed the season and shortened to 22 games at IMG Academy.
Moreover, Sue had missed half of the games because of her knees. Despite the challenge, Bird created history by winning her fourth WNBA championship in three decades.
In 2021, Sue was named to The W25, the league’s official list of the 25 greatest players.
Throughout Bird’s almost two-decade career in the league, she has appeared in 519 games. Likewise, she created a league record of 2,888 assists, ranking her eighth in points scored with 6,262.
Journey To Become Only Player To Win Five Olympic Gold Medals
Sue, the Storm’s point guard, would win the gold at the 2004 Women’s Olympic Basketball in Athens, Greece.
Likewise, she was invited back to Beijing’s 2008 Olympic basketball team. Bird initiated all eight games and led the team with 14 steals. The USA team won their second gold.
Similarly, in the 2012 Summer Olympics, the American team won their fifth straight gold medal. It was Bird’s third gold medal with the team.
The New York native was an integral part of the U.S. team as they won over Spain in the finale of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Her fourth Olympic title and the team’s sixth straight gold medal.
Similarly, Sue was selected as the flag bearer at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021. Unsurprisingly, Bird accumulated five historic gold medals by this time.
World Championship
In 2002, Bird was anointed to the national team and competed in the World Championships in China. She scored 4.3 ppg.
Similarly, in 2006, Bird was named to the National Team for the World Championships in San Paulo, Brazil. She led the team with 41 assists but lost against Russia in the medal round. Thus, the USA team settled for the bronze medal in Brazil.
Rapinoe’s fiance, Sue Bird, represented the USA Basketball team at the World Championship in September and October 2010. The team USA managed to win the championship and gold medal despite limited practice.
Furthermore, she averaged 5.6 ppg and led the team with 26 assists. Similarly, Bird represented her birth country during the 2014 FIBA World Championship. The team defeated Spain to win the gold medal.
Likewise, in the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the undefeated team beat Australia to win the gold medal. Sue finished the final with five assists, making her the leader for the U.S. most assists at the World Cup.
Moreover, Bird became the only player to win four World Cup gold medals.
Sue Bird’s Career Highlights
- Naismith Award (2002)
- National Lieberman Award x3 (2000-2002)
- 2x NCAA Champion (2000, 2002)
- 5x EuroLeague Champion (2007-2010, 2013)
- 5x Russian National League Champion (2007, 2008, 2012-14)
- 2x WNBA Peak Performer (2009, 2016)
- 3x All-WNBA assists leader (2005, 2009, 2016)
- 12x WNBA All-star (2002, 2003, 2005–2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021)
- USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year 2021
Sue Bird | Net Worth & Earnings
The four-time WNBA champion, Sue Bird, has been in the WNBA since 2002. Her experiences and titles already explained her wealth.
However, the oldest active player in WNBA, Sue Bird’s net worth is estimated Between $5million And $8 million.
Although the actual figure isn’t published, her six-figure contracts speak volumes. Besides NBA salary, Bird also makes a colossal amount from brand sponsorships.
Earning As Professional Basketball Players
In Bird’s nearly two decades career, she has earned several esteemed titles.
Moreover, Bird joined the WNBA long before six figures was a thing. But the irony, even if she had joined the league for a long time, her maximum salary was still under six figures.
Regardless, she is still counted among the highest-paid WNBA players.
As of 2022, Sue Bird signed a year contract worth $72,141 as a free agent.
Bird was one of the best point guards ever to play in 2014 – she signed a five-year contract worth $673,000 with the Storm—her average salary of $134,600 per year throughout the contract period.
Furthermore, in 2020, Sue’s salary bumped to $215,000 yearly.
Although Bird’s WNBA league has been phenomenal, she reportedly never made real money. As a result, she headed overseas and played for various Russian Premier League teams.
Bird made between $400,000 and $1 million per season during her time in Euroleague, depending on bonuses.
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Earnings From Sponsorship
Sue Bird reportedly made very little from the league, most of her earnings from overseas games and endorsements.
One of Bird’s prime sponsors is Nike.
Other sponsors are Symetra, State Farm, American Express, CarMax, Mendi, and Glossier. Hence, Bird’s net worth is heavily supported by endorsements as well.
Never Worried About Being Gay
One’s sexuality is none of the public’s business. WNBA star Sue Bird agrees. She never felt the need to “come out” despite realizing her sexuality in college.
Furthermore, Bird never spoke about being gay with her college teammate Diana Taurasi, who is also gay, until in the 2000s in Russia.
However, the utterly private star was finally ready to speak in 2017.
It came out Publicly in 2017
In conversation with ESPNW’s Mechelle Voepel, Bird said, “I’m gay. Megan’s my girlfriend..” She further explained that her sexuality and relationship weren’t secrets to people who knew her.
Bird further denied having to keep her sexuality a secret. But, she felt the weight of “coming out” throughout her career since it is a relatively personal journey.
Thus, Bird said, “It’s happening when it’s happening because that’s what feels right. Still unhinged, she addressed people who thought she should have done it sooner and said, “It is what it is.”
Meaning it’s her journey, and she gets to decide it. Well, where’s the lie?
Above all, Bird clarified that her decision to speak has nothing to do with her relationship with Rapinoe.
She said, “This has nothing to do with Megan… This has been something I’ve been on the verge of doing for a long time.” That was 2017, on the eve of her record-tying 10th WNBA All-Star Game.
Bird was very close to coming out before the 2016 Rio Olympics while filling out a “25 things you don’t know about Olympians.” But she didn’t.
The athletic couple has been turning heads and making headlines ever since. But where did it all start?
It All Started in 2016…
The unflappable soccer star Megan Rapione and WNBA Sue Bird first met at the 2016 Rio Olympics. After the women’s soccer team failed to make it to the semifinals, they cheered for the U.S. basketball team led by Bird.
Although Megan didn’t notice Bird at an after-party, they soon met up on their home turf of Seattle. While talking to the Seattle Times, Bird’s girlfriend, Rapinoe, revealed that the pair started as a friendship, but they were dating within a month in September 2016.
Moreover, the power duo Megan and Rapione made history after being featured in ESPN’s Body Issue in 2018. They became the first gay couple to do so.
Bird’s fiance said that the pair do not want to do things as a token of their sexuality but want to celebrate who they are in the sport.
The sports couple advocates issues that aren’t always highlighted in sports.
Engaged in 2020
The sports couple, Megan and Sue, have celebrated many victories together. Furthermore, after four years of dating, the do-gooder couple engaged in October 2020.
While celebrating Bird’s 40th birthday and fourth WNBA championship with the Storm in Antigua, Megan got on her knees and popped the question.
Megan Rapinoe’s fiancee shares their happy news on Friday evening on her Instagram. The sweet snap shows the WNBA champion standing in an infinity pool looking out over the ocean as her partner kneels on edge to place a ring on her finger.
The pair appeared on G.Q. shortly after their engagement. Throughout the four years-long relationships, we have witnessed the power couple grow. Hopefully, we will see them exchange vows shortly after.
Sue Bird | Social Media
Megan Rapione’s soon-to-be wife, Sue Bird, is active on social media. She boasts 651k followers on her Instagram.
Likewise, Bird’s Twitter has 184k followers and 216k followers on Facebook.
FAQs
Is Sue Bird Related to Larry Bird?
NBA’s greatest stars share the same last name despite not being related. But as far as WNBA star Sue Bird is concerned, Larry Bird, Boston Celtics legend, may as well be her uncle.
At least, that’s what she told everyone.
According to sports yahoo, Megan Rapione’s to-be wife Sue would get asked if the NBA shooter Larry Bird was a member of her family. She loved getting mistaken for his daughter or niece or merely related.
Hence, she habitually stretched the truth about her family tree. So the bottom line is Larry Bird and Sue Bird aren’t related, but she relished that she was mistaken for the Indiana native’s family.
When Is Sue Bird Retiring?
The decades-long Storm advocate, Sue Bird, is retiring after her 19th season at age 41. The Seattle Storm point guard confirmed her retirement in a brief statement via Twitter.
Later in the day, Megan Rapione’s sweetheart discussed more openly her retirement. She said she’d miss it and feels a bit ‘like mourning.’ However, Bird seems excited for the next chapter of her life, all while reflecting on things she’s accomplished.
