Seattle to rename part of street ‘Sue Bird Court’

SEATTLE — At a ceremony Monday outside Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that the city will rename a section of the street leading to the arena that the legendary guard called home as a member of the Seattle Storm for more than two decades as “Sue Bird Court.”

Bird joins Seattle Mariners star Edgar Martinez and Lenny Wilkins, a player, coach and executive with the Seattle SuperSonics, as Seattle athletes who will be honored with street names. Sue Bird Stadium, formerly the end of 2nd Ave. N, intersects with Lenny Wilkins Way just outside the arena.

“For a woman in sports, that’s not normal,” Bird said, referring to Harrell’s comments about her inspirational power over young fans. “You’re starting to see that more with an example like the A’ja Wilson statue, and you’re starting to see these things celebrated. I didn’t know that was possible. That’s actually what makes it extra special.”

“A little girl might see a sign on the street, or a poster, or something, or a mural, and she might dream about it. That makes it more special.”

Monday’s ceremony capped a busy weekend in Seattle for Bird and her fiancée Megan Rapinoe, whose No. 15 jersey was retired by the Seattle Reign FC during a pregame ceremony Sunday at Lumen Field. Bird previously had her No. 10 jersey retired by the Storm in June, nine months after her last WNBA game.

“Especially when you’re in your career, when you’re trying to win and do and accomplish something, you can lose focus,” Bird said. “You’re so busy, and then when you step away and take a moment or have a weekend like this where you’re celebrated, it’s really cool to share it with the city but then for Megan and me to share it together.”

Selected by Seattle No. 1 overall out of Connecticut in 2002, Bird played her 19-season WNBA career with the Storm, forgoing the opportunity to return home to New York and play for the Liberty in 2016. Teaming with younger stars Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart, Bird later won championships in 2018 and 2020, giving her four league titles with the Storm — more than any other Seattle team in a major professional league.

Although Bird and Rapinoe share a home in New York City, maintaining her place in Seattle is important to Bird, who joined the Storm’s ownership group earlier this year.

“I feel like I grew up here in a lot of ways,” she said. “I doubt I’d ever sell my house here, even if it wasn’t the main house. We’ll see, later, but I always want to be connected. I always want to have roots here.”

Storm co-owner Dawn Trudeau, who represented the organization at the ceremony, said the team approached the mayor’s office about renaming a street after Bird last year and found they were “excited to do something. Then it comes down to where and when.”

Part of that process was deciding on a street name. “Sue Bird Pass,” a fitting designation for the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer with more than 3,200 assists, wasn’t an option because “pass” has a specific definition for emergency services purposes. So, three blocks away from the hardwood floor where Bird shined, fans will now be able to take Sue Bird Court to Seattle games.

“I felt it was right,” Trudeau said.

For now, the street name change is honorary, with 2nd Ave. N remaining the official name for the segment from Denny Way to Lenny Wilkens Way. The name change will become permanent after the Seattle City Council approves the presidential proclamation, which is expected to happen next month.