Jul 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sue Bird arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

'There's going to be so many superteams formed': Sue Bird speaks out on Unrivaled becoming a free-agency recruitment place

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jan 16, 2025 9:32 AM ET

Women’s basketball legend Sue Bird made a prediction that players in the Unrivaled league would take the opportunity to recruit fellow stars to their teams. In fact, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has been reportedly courting her Rose BC teammate Kahleah Copper to team up with her in the next WNBA season.

Bird shared her take during Wednesday’s episode of her podcast “A Touch More.” She also said that discussions about WNBA free against are likely rampant in Unrivaled locker rooms, recalling her time with Team USA at the Olympics when players recruited each other.

“The only other thing I thought of the second I heard this league was happening, when I started to see all the players signing up, it takes place in January and February was, ‘Oh my god, there’s going to be so many super teams formed,’” Sue Bird said.

“The WNBA free agency chatter that must be happening in the training room, when they’re out shopping, when they’re getting some coffee has got to be next level. It used to be what we did during (Team USA) basketball camps because that’s one of the few times where the top talent was in the same place at the same time for consecutive days,” the five-time Olympic gold medalist added.

The Unrivaled League, the latest league in women’s professional basketball, officially opens on Friday night. Aiming to offer fans a fresh perspective on the sport, some of the biggest stars in the WNBA signed up to be part of the league’s six teams.

Sue Bird addresses rumors of Geno Auriemma quitting UConn

Former four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird shared her thoughts on the rumors that longtime UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma is leaving the program.

Jul 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sue Bird arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bird addressed the rumors of Auriemma’s supposed exit from UConn in a video uploaded on the SportsNet New York account on YouTube. She cited some instances that would cause the winningest coach in women’s basketball to leave Storrs.

“I’d imagine a big part of it is like, ‘I built this. Why wouldn’t I want to see this through my whole career?’” Bird said. “Like what are we really leaving for? And so I think there’s a sense of, like, ownership. He literally built this.”

Sue Bird and Geno Auriemma spent four years together as player and coach at the University of Connecticut from 1998 to 2002. Together, they won two NCAA championships and had an undefeated run in 2002.