Think of all the great players that have played for Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey in their 35 seasons at UConn. Yes, the likely Top 4 are Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart. But it's safe to say the #5 position, running the point guard spot could only go to one person, Sue Bird. One of the most successful and winningest basketball players ever...

Sue grew up on Long Island (Syosset, NY) and played numerous sports growing up...Soccer, Track and Tennis..But basketball was number one on the list. Playing AAU from age 11 on, and she was good at it too. In High School,she was looking for a challenge after two years at Syosset High School in search of better competition. She landed at the famous Christ the King Regional High School in Queens, where her basketball talents went to a new level. A 24-3 record in her junior year, and they ran the table in winning the New York State Championship and National Championship in her senior year of 1998. Bird was named NY State POY and was named a WBCA High School All American...

With her talents soaring in High School and her academic success as well, colleges were knocking down the door for her to come to their school. Stanford and Vanderbilt were among her choices, but UConn as she put it "just felt right." It didn't hurt she was joining the likes of Swin Cash, Tamika Williams and Asjha Jones in a loaded Freshman Class coming to Storrs. No one knew at the time, the Dynasty was being built...

The Huskies hadn't been back to the Final Four since 1996. Was there pressure mounting having great regular seasons and winning conference tournament titles without getting at least to the Final Four ?? Perhaps...But with the help of this core group and a talented group of veterans that included Shea Ralph, Svetlana Abrosimova and Amy Duran, the Huskies were again going to be a legitimate threat to win a National Championship...

And it's didn't take long for Bird and the Huskies to strut their stuff. As Sue was a starter right from the opening tip of the season's first game...8-0 with the Huskies scoring 100+ points in 6 of those first 8 contests, where Sue averaged 5 points and 3 assists per game. Scoring 13 against Holy Cross and making a pair of three's against #6 Notre Dame in December. But during the exam break, Sue's Freshman season ended abruptly when she tore her left ACL in practice. And because the Huskies had played more than 20% of their games, no medical redshirt was possible. The Huskies again won the Big East Tournament, but made their earliest exit from the Tournament in seven years when Iowa State shocked them in the Sweet 16.

Bird healthy for the 1999-2000 season that started with a trio to Italy for the team. Working on things that would pay dividends at the end. Bird effective right away, 19 double figure games, including a breakout 25 at Tennessee, plus a 10 assist game against Old Dominion. And in the Big East Tournament, led the Huskies with 18 in the Championship Game win over Rutgers, making 4 of 6 from three. Bird then did her part of a total team effort in the NCAA's, 9 assists in the opener, 16 points in round two, 14 points in the Sweet 16. She added 16 more with 4 assists to get the Huskies to Philadelphia and a 4th Final Four...Where Bird added 19 and 5 assists (5/7 from three) to beat Penn State...And was a solid defender and facilitator in the championship game win over Tennessee..Adding four assists of the 21 UConn had that night. Sue that year was a First Team, All Big East Selection, on the All Tournament Teams in the Regionals and Final Four. Averaging 11ppg and was second on the team in assists per game at 4.3. She was also #2 in 3pt % at just under 50%...Starting all 37 games in her Sophomore season. And yes when they won the title in Philly, that was Sue diving on the floor in celebration of the Huskies 2nd National Championship...

Her Junior Year of 2000-2001, Svet and Shea were seniors, most of the core group was back and Diana Taurasi joined the team as a freshman. Of course most people expected the Huskies to repeat...13-0 where Bird had a second 10 assist game against Illinois and 15 points in beating Tennessee in January. But there was a senior laden team in South Bend challenging to take UConn's top spot away, not just in the Big East, but Nationally. Notre Dame beat the Huskies in January to take over the #1 ranking and go on to share the regular season crown with UConn. But were the top seed heading into the Big East Tournament. The Huskies had already lost Svetlana Abrosimova to a season ending foot injury and Bird had missed the Semi Final win over Rutgers with back spasms...But she returned in the title game against Notre Dame...where she was clutch...and on a night Shea Ralph's season ended with another ACL injury, it was needed. A half court three to end the half was just the beginning, one of her three made that night. This see saw affair would end with Bird going coast to coast with a pull up, fade-away jumper from the left elbow as time expired to give UConn the win. The game referred to as "Bird at the Buzzer." in which Jeff Goldberg wrote a book about....Sue was consistent throughout the NCAA's, but no repeat as the Irish used a big second half to beat UConn in the Final Four....That season, Bird averaged 11pts and 5 assists per game, again earning First Team All Big East and receiving a Third Team, AP All American Honor..But the Final Four loss irked Bird and her teammates...And well the 2001-02 season would be, dominating....

Plowing thru the campaign with very little resistance. Only Four Games decided by 15 points or less and just one by less than ten in their 39-0 season and the programs third National Championship. 32 double figure games, 10 of 20+ that included a 22pt, 8 assist game at Old Dominion in December and a 23 point day against BC...But the postseason belonged to Bird...Especially the Regionals in Milwaukee...24 points against Penn State and a career high 26 point and career high 11 assist night in the Elite 8 "clinic" victory over Old Dominion that vaulted the Huskies to a third straight Final Four. Where she scored 18 in the National Semi Final dismantling of Tennessee...The championship game wasn't Sue's best shooting night...but the front line did the damage in beating Oklahoma 82-70. She finished with 14, going 8-8 from the line in a year she led the nation in Free Throw shooting (94.2%) . Her Senior Year, Sue averaged 14ppg, dolled out a UConn Single Season Record of 231 assists (5.9pg) shot 50.5% from the field and made 46.6% of her three's...Earning her the 2002 Wade Trophy, unanimous All American Honors...Big East Player of the Year and The Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the Nation's Top Point Guard. And let's not forget being the #1 overall pick of the Seattle Storm of the WNBA as the core four UConn Seniors were drafted thru pick #6.

Sue's WNBA, International and Olympic Career are well documented...3x WNBA Champ, 11x All Star, WNBA All Time Assists Leader (Averaging 12p 6a and starting every game played ), 5x Russian League Champ, 5x EuroLeague Champ, 2x Europe Super Cup Winner...and with USA Basketball ? Four Olympic Golds and 4 World Championship Golds...And of course let's not forget Bird being part of the Inaugural Class that is The Huskies of Honor.

Today Bird splits time in Seattle and Connecticut with her partner and USWNT Soccer Player Megan Rapinoe..As she begins to transition into life after basketball, working with ESPN and has held front office positions with NBA's Denver Nuggets. But as of right now, Bird plans to play this WNBA Season and still try to make the U.S. Olympic Team for a Fifth Time....

Sue Bird, yes a UConn Legend, but a basketball legend !!

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