When Sue Bird got to exchange words with Caitlin Clark after being picked No. 1 overall in the W, she had only one phrase to keep her going: “Continue to be yourself,” she shared, and that was it. And yes, CC followed through. While it took a few days, she eventually adjusted to the league and began exceling on the court. That’s the kind of relationship Bird had with CC when the former Hawkeye star was drafted into the W. But is this relationship just limited to basketball?
Not really, because CC knows how to appreciate. While she’s currently out due to a left groin injury—and yes, also celebrating her team’s first-ever Commissioner’s Cup victory, which came with a hefty $500,000 prize—she still didn’t forget to take time out to remember and acknowledge what really matters.
So when she came across the news that women’s basketball legend Sue Bird would become the first-ever W player in history to have a statue built in her honor by a franchise, right outside Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on August 17, CC didn’t hesitate to repost the announcement on her Instagram story.
And yes, it wasn’t without a caption. “Duh,” she wrote. No doubt, Bird deserved it. Just consider she’s helped the Storm win four WNBA championships (2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020), and was a 13-time WNBA All-Star. And that’s not all! She even holds the all-time WNBA assist record, something that might just be on CC’s bucket list. So, its easy to get why she deserves this special honor from the team.
Jul 1, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) puts on a Commissioner’s Cup Champions hat after defeating the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Sue herself put it best. “For over two decades, the city of Seattle supported me, both on and off the court. It’s because of this community that Seattle will forever hold a special place in my heart. This statue isn’t just for me, it’s for anyone out there hoping to one day pursue their passions and live out their dreams,” shared Bird.
“I’m thankful to the Storm and Seattle for this honor, and can’t wait to celebrate with my family, friends and our amazing fans this August,” Bird continued. And yes, she said it right. The statue is a symbol for anyone out there hoping to pursue their passion, just like the five-time Olympic gold medalist did.
And it’s not just about her because she’s always been about helping others accomplish their dreams, including CC. Even when the Indiana Fever sensation was playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Bird had been a huge fan, often showing up at games. Even when Iowa lost to South Carolina in the 2024 National Championship, Bird wrote, “What a season @IowaWBB and what a career @CaitlinClark22. We undoubtedly watched one of the all-time best college careers… ring or not. Thank you for helping elevate our sport with your play, your poise, and of course your logo 3s! I can’t wait to watch you at the next level!” That’s the kind of impact Bird has—not just on CC, but across the league. But here’s the catch: she’s not the first WNBA player to get a statue in her honor!
Who made history before Sue Bird??
Years before Sue Bird’s statue unveiling was announced, A’ja Wilson had already been cast in bronze, becoming the first-ever female student-athlete at the University of South Carolina to receive such an honor. Of course, we all knew the kind of phenom Wilson was—not just under Dawn Staley in college, but also in the WNBA. And if there’s still any doubt, just look at her three MVP awards. That alone tells you why she deserved this level of recognition.
So, it makes perfect sense that she was honored with a breathtaking 11-foot-tall bronze figure, mounted on a 4-foot granite base, a towering 15 feet in total, weighing around 950 pounds. The statue now stands at the front of Colonial Life Arena, the very court where Wilson once dominated the game. But there’s something that makes it even more special. Her statue was sculpted by none other than Julie Rotblatt-Amrany, the same artist behind Sue Bird’s statue and many other iconic sports statues .
But beyond the size and scale, what really gives the statue meaning is what it stands for. As Dawn Staley, Wilson’s college coach, put it, the statue is living proof of “what is possible”, especially for young black girls dreaming big in sports or leadership. So, you know what the Storm franchise is doing right now had already been done by USC. But while the franchise is funding Sue Bird’s statue, that wasn’t the case with Wilson’s, as hers came to life thanks to donations. Beyond all, it’s a powerful reminder that representation matters!
The post Caitlin Clark Drops 3-Letter Tribute to Sue Bird’s History-Making Moment in WNBA appeared first on EssentiallySports.
