'I Use Her Frequently': Becky Hammon Reveals How Sue Bird Serves as Locker Room Inspiration for Las Vegas Aces

Bird was drafted No. 1 overall in 2002 by the Seattle Storm and went on to spend her entire 20-year career with the franchise. She retired in 2022 as the WNBA’s all-time leader in assists (3,234), games played (580), minutes (18,079), and wins (333). Her four championships came in 2004, 2010, 2018, and 2020, each in a different phase of her career.

She was named to 13 All-Star teams and earned eight All-WNBA selections. Internationally, Bird helped lead Team USA to five Olympic gold medals and four FIBA World Cup titles. Her career began at UConn, where she won two NCAA championships, collected three Nancy Lieberman Awards, and finished with a 136–9 overall record.

Bird will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame alongside Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore in a landmark 2025 class. It marks the first time three WNBA legends will be enshrined together. All three were first-ballot selections and rank among the league’s greatest players, according to ESPN’s 25th anniversary rankings.

Bird will also be honored at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June, where she’ll join a class that includes Fowles, Cappie Pondexter, and Alana Beard.

The magnitude of Bird’s contributions extends beyond her statistical dominance. Her ability to create structure, instill confidence, and lead through example made her the connective tissue of every roster she joined.

Becky Hammon and Sue Bird Share Parallel Paths, Lasting Impact

While Bird anchored dynasties in Seattle and for Team USA, Hammon charted her own course as an undrafted guard out of Colorado State who became a six-time WNBA All-Star. Her post-playing career broke barriers—first as the NBA’s first full-time female assistant coach, then as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, leading the franchise to championships in 2022 and 2023.

Hammon was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023, two years before Bird’s enshrinement. The careers of the two legends often overlapped, and both helped elevate the league at a time when visibility and investment were still growing.

Their leadership has taken different forms—Bird, as a methodical floor general; Hammon, as a dynamic scorer and now championship-winning coach—but their shared legacy lies in how they’ve carried the WNBA forward.

Bird’s recognition comes at a time of major growth for the league. National television deals, record attendance, and rising stars like A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers represent the next chapter of a movement Bird helped build.

A Celebration of Influence, Not Just Accolades

The 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony will rightfully honor Bird’s career, but as Hammon emphasized, it also serves as a moment to recognize the enduring power of leadership.

Bird’s greatness wasn’t always loud. It was seen in how she brought order to chaos, built trust in the locker room, and made those around her better. That’s the version of success Hammon now brings into her own locker room in Las Vegas.

The path Bird traveled—from UConn to Seattle to global dominance—helped pave the way for the current and future generations. Her story, like Hammon’s, is a reminder that greatness is not just about numbers. It’s about the lives you elevate and the foundation you leave behind.