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Sue Bird shares some laughs as she answers questions from the crowd during The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 Inductions media event at the WBHOF June 13, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Shawn Millsaps/ Special to News Sentinel)

'We Like It That Way': Sue Bird Speaks Out On WNBA’s Physicality And How Players Perceive It

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 11:46 AM ET

Sue Bird cut straight through the noise this week, unpacking how the WNBA’s grit has been wrongfully branded as a badge of honor. On her “Bird’s Eye View” podcast, the legendary point guard acknowledged the league is physical—but not because players light it up for fun.

“There’s so much conversation about (the league’s physicality)…we as WNBA players talk about the physicality in our league like a badge of honor. And I don’t think that’s the case at all…Yes, this is a physical league…you got to be ready for it…it’s not because we want it to be that way or like it that way.”

That’s Sue Bird, taking away the narrative and calling on the league’s leaders and refs to do their job. The WNBA has seen its fair share of hard hits lately—like Natasha Howard’s scuffle-filled Suns game and A’ja Wilson walking away with a bloody nose—fueling debates on and off the court.

For all its rising viewership and spotlight, the WNBA still gets hounded with the same stereotypes. Bird’s message? Physicality is part of the game—but it shouldn’t define it. She’s reminding fans and officials: this isn’t a battle royale. It’s high-level hoops.

And with new commissioner picks and a push for better media deals, Sue Bird is doubling down: let the WNBA shine for its skill, not its scrums. That’s the league she built—a blueprint, not a brawl.

If you want to talk hard, come correct. The WNBA demands finesse first, toughness second—and Sue Bird won’t let anyone forget it.

Ref Critiques Spike as Sue Bird Highlights League’s Physicality Dilemma

Sue Bird didn’t mince words when discussing how the WNBA is handling physical play—and it’s ref accountability she’s pushing to the front.

“Yes, this is a physical league…you got to be ready for it…and while it’s true that we have defended the physicality, it’s not because we want it to be that way or like it that way,” Sue Bird emphasized, underscoring that toughness is required but not sought. That message lands hard in a WNBA where hard screens and contact call for clear officiating.

Sue Bird answers questions from the crowd during The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 Inductions media event at the WBHOF June 13, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Shawn Millsaps/ Special to News Sentinel)

The sharp increase in criticism over tight and loose whistles across the WNBA coincides with those fiery games—like the Suns’ gritty matchups—where inconsistent calls shift momentum and spark headlines. Sue Bird’s quote adds fuel to a growing chorus demanding referees own the consistency ball.

If the WNBA aims to elevate its reputation, the solution starts with clarity. Sue Bird has laid it out: calls that define the physicality can’t be left to interpretation. Every whistle—or miss—shapes not just the scoreboard, but the league’s credibility.

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee, Sue Bird, gives her remarks during the 2025 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre, June 14, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel)

Sue Bird’s voice carries weight, and her point is clear: officiating in a physical WNBA needs sharper vision—and fast.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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