When you've won as much as Sue Bird has, you start running out of room for trophies. But the latest honor for the basketball legend is one that truly takes flight—literally.
The Connecticut legislature has approved a bill that, once signed by Governor Ned Lamont, will officially make Bird one of the state's birds. Every March, the designation will be shared between the American robin, New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins, and Bird herself. Yes, you read that right: a human being, a professional basketball player, and a robin, all state birds together.
The bill reads: "The American robin, Turdus migratorius, shall be the state bird, provided in the month of March of each year, the American robin, Jordan Hawkins, and Suzanne Brigit Bird, also known as Sue Bird, shall be the state birds."
It's a playful nod to Connecticut's deep love affair with UConn basketball, especially during the madness of March. State House Speaker Matt Ritter summed it up perfectly: "It speaks well to our love affair with our university and our basketball team in the month of March and what it means to the state. And I think it's a nice gesture."
Bird's own reaction? Understated and classy, as always. The Instagram account for her podcast, Bird's Eye View, simply commented: "What an honor."
It's hard to argue with that. Bird's resume is nothing short of legendary. A two-time NCAA champion at UConn, she led the Huskies to a perfect 39-0 season in 2001-02, earning Naismith Player of the Year honors along the way. She also won the Nancy Lieberman Award three times as the nation's top point guard. Her No. 10 jersey was retired by UConn this past December.
From there, it was on to the WNBA, where the Seattle Storm made her the No. 1 overall pick in 2002. Over two decades, she delivered four WNBA titles, 13 All-Star selections, and five All-WNBA First Team nods. She's also been named to the league's 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th anniversary teams—a testament to sustained greatness.
So, while most athletes dream of championship rings or MVP trophies, Sue Bird can now add "state bird" to her collection. And honestly, for a player who soared as high as she did, it's a fitting tribute.