Sue Bird began forging her women’s basketball legacy while starring at the University of Connecticut under legendary coach Geno Auriemma. Over four standout seasons in Storrs, Bird, alongside Swin Cash and Rebecca Lobo, led UConn to national championships in 2000 and 2002. On Sunday, after her illustrious collegiate career, she joined Cash and Lobo as the third Huskies player to have her jersey retired.
UConn Guard Sue Bird Honored To Have Her Jersey Retired
Before Sunday’s game against DePaul, Bird attended the ceremony with her 2025-26 Huskies teammates. She said she is honored to follow in the footsteps of Cash, the 1995 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and national champion Lobo.
“It’s really such an honor. You look at all the names above me, you look at all the plaques, the player of the years, all Americans, obviously the other banners with the championships, like so much history,” Bird, who played 118 games and came up with 1,378 points, 585 rebounds, and 240 steals during her four-season stint with the Huskies, said.
The 5’9″ Syosset, New York native, said it is special to join a generation of amazing women’s college basketball players. That group propelled UConn to 12 national championships between 1995 and 2016. They paved the way for future Huskies who achieved the 13th title this past season.
“It’s the further you get away from a career, I feel like the more you really can sit in it and realize how special and how much you achieved and at the very same time knowing that I was part of a generation that paved the way for younger players um is really special,” she added.
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Bird, who arrived from New York’s Christ the King alongside Cash, Asjha Jones, Tamika Williams, and Keirsten Walters, contributed to a significant transformation in the Huskies’ playing style.
Together, they helped lead the team to two historic championships. In 1999-2000, with this new core, the Huskies went 36-1, capturing the national title after Tennessee ended their bid for an undefeated season in the regular season with a close 72-71 win.
Building on the foundation established over the previous seasons, the Huskies could not be stopped two years later. They achieved a flawless 39-0 record, culminating with an 82-70 victory over Oklahoma in the national championship final.
Bird continued her run in the WNBA as she was drafted first overall by the Seattle Storm and helped the team win four titles. She also excelled in the international scene, winning five gold medals in the Olympics and being part of four FIBA World Championship squads.
Bird Inspires 2025–26 UConn Team to 67-Point Rout of DePaul
Bird’s jersey retirement inspired the Huskies to a 102-35 win over DePaul on Sunday night in Storrs, Connecticut. UConn, now 9-0 (2-0 Big East), recorded 23 steals to aid the rout.
Sarah Strong led the No. 1 Huskies with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, and five steals. Azzi Fudd scored all 16 of her points in the first half. USC transfer Kayleigh Heckel added 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Jana El Alfy contributed a season-high 11 points.
UConn extended its Big East regular-season winning streak to 40 games and honored Bird with dominant play for a 58-18 halftime lead. The 67-point win was UConn’s largest over DePaul in 28 meetings, surpassing a 47-point margin from 2013.