Sue Bird is officially returning to the Seattle Storm for what is expected to be the 41-year-old’s final season.
The Seattle Storm announced the news Friday, though official terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Bird took the veteran minimum of $72,141, signing a one-year, protected contract, according to multiple reports. The WNBA supermax salary for 2022 is $228,094.
Wow: @S10Bird took the vet minimum $72,141 from Seattle, though it is guaranteed, source tells @TheNextHoops #WNBA— Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) February 18, 2022
Wow: @S10Bird took the vet minimum $72,141 from Seattle, though it is guaranteed, source tells @TheNextHoops #WNBA
The 2022 campaign will be Bird’s 19th season with the Storm, the most of any WNBA player in league history. Bird has scored or assisted on 27.6 percent of every basket in Storm history, which includes four seasons in which she did not compete.
The four-time WNBA champion is also the WNBA’s all-time assist leader, with 3,048 career assists.
In 2021, Bird averaged 10.0 points, 5.3 assists and 0.9 steals per game.
“Sue is the best point guard to ever play our game and we are so excited to have her back for another season,” said Storm head coach Noelle Quinn. “What she’s done for the organization and city of Seattle is nothing short of amazing. Her leadership, competitive spirit, and passion for the game shines through every time she steps foot on the court.”
Seattle will play in the newly renovated Climate Pledge Arena in 2022, with the team’s first game set for May 6.