UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma recently sent a congratulatory message to one of his former players and now Seattle Storm legend, Sue Bird, for a major achievement. On Sunday, Aug. 17, Storm’s X handle posted a video of Auriemma congratulating Bird.
This is because Bird’s statue outside the Storm’s home court, the Climate Pledge Arena, was unveiled earlier on Sunday. The statue was announced on July 1, and she officially became the first-ever WNBA player to have her statue outside of a franchise’s arena. This boded well with coach Auriemma, as he pointed out the tremendous amount of “firsts” Bird has had in her career.
“Hi, Sue. Sorry, I can’t be there to see it in person. But, one, I’m not surprised by anything anymore about you and your basketball career on and off the court. Honestly, you know, not surprised at all that you’re the first WNBA player that would ever have a statue in front of the building where you made so many memories. But, you were first in everything you tried to do, you know,” Auriemma said.
“At UConn, you were first pick, you were first by winning championships in Seattle, first to five gold medals, first to lead the Olympic team as the national director. Now, just a lifetime of firsts and first in games played, first in steels, all that great stuff. We couldn’t be prouder of you. Personally, I’ve obviously loved every minute of watching you play, and everything else that you’ve accomplished during your incredible career,” he added.
Auriemma ended his video with a hilarious joke.
“So congratulations from everyone here at UConn, and that statue, I hope the pigeons are kind to it. Take care,” he concluded.
From Sue’s UConn family 💙 pic.twitter.com/2oIL5ItfHo
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) August 17, 2025
Coach Auriemma is coming off a success-filled 2024-25 season with the current crop of the Huskies. They won the program’s 12th national title after defeating the 2024 national champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks, by 23 points, 82-59, in this year’s NCAA championship game.
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Sue Bird was a two-time national champion with the UConn Huskies
Under the tutelage of coach Geno Auriemma, Sue Bird was one of the focal points that led the UConn Huskies to two national championships.
Bird won two NCAA titles in 2000 and 2002, which were her third and fifth years of collegiate hoops, respectively. She went on to become the first overall pick in the first round of the 2002 WNBA Draft.
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