Seattle Storm fans got the first of what they hope will be many wishes as the Storm prepares for their upcoming inaugural season in Climate Pledge Arena. USA Basketball, WNBA, and Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird announced last week that she would return for her 19th season through an Instagram post.
Bird’s return for another season was speculated but nothing was ever definitive until her announcement. The future looked bleak for Storm Nation when Diana Taurasi led Phoenix Mercury jettisoned the Storm from the WNBA Playoffs last year and the two legends swapped jerseys.
While Taurasi did her part to force Bird to make a decision to return for one more year. Taurasi orchestrated a “ one more year chant “, with the fans who attended the game at Angel of the Winds Casino Bird was non-committal.
“Usually, I’m like one more year if I feel good, I’ll be there. I think this is the first time when I’m really going to have to sit back and just kind of see how I feel and weigh some things. I know for sure that I want to let the emotion of the season die down. I don’t want to make an emotional decision. And I also feel very lucky that it’s not the physical part that’s ‘taking me down.’ It will be my own decision.”
With Bird returning for one more year Storm Nation is now hoping the return of Bird will be the start of the Storm bringing the band together again. Breanna Stewart, Jewel Loyd, are both unrestricted free agents with Stephanie Talbot, Jordin Canada, Mercedes Russell, and Karlie Samuelson restricted free agents. WNBA teams and free agents cannot begin negotiating until Jan. 15, and new contracts can’t officially be signed until Feb. 1
