Quotes by Sue Bird

I guess, technically, I went to a New York City high school, but I wouldn't call myself a New York City kid. But I've played against city kids all my life. So that kind of instills something in you.

I think when you go through any surgery, your body changes. And with that, it can be probably the toughest mental challenge you're gonna face.

Basketball is basketball, so from a strategic standpoint, having a players' perspective is valuable.

I'm a big fan of the Kyrie shoe.

Seattle is my home.

I'm not big on rookie hazing. I didn't wanna be hazed as a rookie, so I definitely didn't want to do it to others.

Going into your rookie year, whatever team does take you, and you get to camp, there's going to be a lot of talent in that gym. You're going to walk in a gym -- and no matter what -- there's going to be a lot of talent.

I don't know that I'm as conservative as portrayed.

I'm not a good one-on-one player.

I really subscribe to the 'look good, feel good' mantra in terms of playing, in terms of getting out there.

When I turned 30, the first question I got was, 'How much longer do you want to play?' And I don't see why that can't be when you turn 40. I really don't.

I've had, like, 10 surgeries in my life: four or so on my knee, my hip and my nose a couple of times.

At some high schools, you're the star player, and everything revolves around you.

My best vacations have been in Hawaii.

I am thrilled to be re-signing with the Storm. This franchise and city have been incredibly supportive throughout my career, and I am looking forward to getting back to work with my teammates.

People continue to put our league down. It's because we're women; that's the fight. And it's a majority of black women; that's the other fight. But we represent America to the fullest. And it's weird to me that people wouldn't want to support that. I don't get it.

When you're losing, and you're losing again, and you're losing 3... 4... 5 games in a row, it can be frustrating.

I don't feel this overwhelming pressure to play or to 'make money.' That's not my driving goal.

New York is like a melting pot: so many different people, so many different cultures.

I'd love to have another chance to represent my country in the Olympics. If I'm healthy, absolutely... I'm very realistic when it comes to goals. I think it will all depend on my health.

In the past, I've told people to get me DVDs: like, the box sets of entire series. When you're overseas and there isn't much else to do, they can be great.

I've been on extremely talented teams that just don't click, and I've also been on team with a little bit less talent, but they clicked, and because they clicked, they did better than other talented teams I've been on.

All of the teams in this league that have won multiple championships, they didn't come out the gate winning. Sometimes you have to take those hits to understand what it takes to win.

I have applied for Israeli citizenship, which makes playing overseas a bit easier.

For a lot of players, it's not that they don't want to play anymore or that they get tired of it or bored of it. It's that their bodies give out.

The reality is, like, women's basketball players are playing against women. And we're all in the same boat the same way men's sports is.

A young basketball player has people to look up to an emulate. We are a pro league, and we're on television. It makes a difference. It's shows what's possible.

I've been really fortunate to go, and it's exciting. You're going to the White House. I remember first walking into the room to meet President Obama and the aura... It's insane.

Going to Jerusalem was an amazing experience... I spent most of my time in Tel Aviv. Gorgeous.

I love Russia.

I was probably 7 or 8 when I went to see the Bulls play and was able to see Michael Jordan.

I think I'd really like to live in Israel. Even for someone like myself who is not that into religion, you go to Israel, and it's breathtaking in a lot of ways.

I actually don't consider myself that private. I know that's how I've been characterized. That's OK.

There's something about dominant teams that draws fans in. People like to see this; they like to witness dominance.

Every great team has had to fail at some point in order to be successful.

There's been so many stories throughout the league where teams have started off poorly and ended up in the Finals. Or teams starting out great and not making the playoffs.

Something I've been starting to use almost every day is a blood flow restriction system for my legs. It's good for recovery and strength.

I definitely eat carbs. I repeat: I do eat carbs. I'm just selective on which carbs I eat and when. I won't eat things like pasta and bread at night, but in terms of fueling a workout and recovering from one, carbs are great.

Homophobia hurts our league. Racism hurts it. Sexism hurts it.

I love sneakers. My storage room is 75 percent sneakers.

I like Air Max 90s; those are usually my go-to. I feel you can wear them with jeans, you can wear them with sweats, you can wear them with anything.

When you have teammates just as talented as you, it's kind of weird to get all the attention.

In my mind, women's basketball players are an untapped resource.

Be a gunner? Me? I don't think I can do it. But I'll go for whatever the assist record is.

I don't eat dairy, and I've been gluten-free ever since I took a blood test that showed I have a mild allergy to gluten.

'The Body Issue' is celebrating athletes' bodies, different sizes, different shapes... For me it's a celebration, and it's an honor to be in it.

To be successful, you have to expose yourself to different situations-different styles of play, different teammates, different coaching.

I'm a big proponent of taking care of yourself.

I think just by the nature of getting older, I hope that I'm a smarter basketball player than I was at 23.

I read 'Twilight' when I was overseas. I actually liked it. I didn't expect to, because I generally don't like fantasy like that because it's far-fetched, but I liked it. It's pretty good.

I've never felt as nervous as I did before a track meet -- literally, stomach going crazy -- 'cause it was just so difficult.

I have to be more assertive-I have take more control at crunch time.

Going to college and living with someone of another race gave me a different view of what people have to go through.

We're going to have a moment. It's coming: just that breakthrough that's going to give us a cool factor, and more people will want to be a part of it. Because that, to me, is the only thing we're lacking -- that social thing: 'It's cool to go to a WNBA game.'

My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the option to play professional basketball, to know that the WNBA was there, and to know I better pick a school that is going to help me get to the next level.

The WNBA changed everything. It started in 1997, and I graduated from high school in 1998.

I think, overall, the name 'The Storm' in Seattle has just continued to grow. It has now become not just an afterthought that we have a WNBA team here: it has become a part of the 'fabric' of our sports society.

Usually men, usually a guy, a casual fan of maybe the NBA and somebody who then watches the WNBA, their instinct is quick to kind of size us up or put themselves against us.

I've become really strict in a lot of ways, but I'm also very lenient. I'm kind to myself.

There's something nice about being part of a trailblazing group. It's hard to look at myself that way because I look at Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoops and Rebecca Lobo and Dawn Staley in that way.

A lot of my friends loved Pearl Jam, so whenever I'd hang out with them, that was usually what CD -- not album -- back then, it was what CD, maybe even tape, but what CD was playing.

There was no professional basketball for me in the United States when I was in grade school and middle school. I could look to the Olympics and college basketball, but that was only on TV for the Final Four.

I'm definitely a 'comfort' player. As a point guard, I like to know my teammates, feel connected to my teammates, and flow with them.

When you're a point guard, man, if you're not up to par, you're in a lot of trouble.

I stick with all anti-inflammatory foods: tons of veggies, eggs, chicken, and fish. I will have some red meat, but only every now and then.

I thought that basketball and soccer were hard. And then I went to track practice. It's just running and running and running. And my event was the 400 hurdles. I ended up qualifying for state. But looking back on it, track was hard.

That's how the WNBA is a lot of times. It's being in the right place at the right time and fulfilling a role. All of us in some way, shape, or form are role players. We have to do what our teams need of us.

Basketball is a short period of time, and you've got to take advantage of it.

You kinda say, 'Well, straight people don't have to come out.' I understand now that's not necessarily the right way to look at it.

You hear about players like Jamal Crawford who's constantly giving back. Isaiah Thomas, even though he's from Tacoma, he went to U-Dub, and he's constantly giving back to the community.

Be kind. Be nice to yourself. You miss a shot, it's OK.

The one thing you learn is when you can step out of your comfort zone and be uncomfortable, you see what you're made of and who you are.

Jay-Z, for a lot of reasons, will always be my favorite. But actually, in terms of what I listen to, it bends towards hip-hop, but I like everything. The only thing I don't really love is country, but everything else I'm a huge fan of.

I'm a worrier, an overthinker, and -- if it's your type of thing -- a 3x WNBA champion.

As for Seattle, we are rebuilding -- no doubt about it. And in the WNBA, it's not easy to rebuild. You can't dangle millions in front of quality free agents.