Sue Bird joins Seattle Storm ownership group after 21 years of starring for them

Sue Bird is the greatest player in Seattle Storm history. Now, she’s becoming a part owner.

The 13-time WNBA All-Star and four-time WNBA champion is joining the Storm’s ownership group, the team announced Wednesday. The size of Storm’s stake and what she paid were not disclosed.

Bird’s comment, via the Storm:

Force 10 Hoops is a consortium of three Seattle businesswomen — Dawn Trudeau, Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder — that purchased the Storm in 2008 for $10 million, preventing the team from following the Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma City.

That investment has more than paid off. The group sold a set of minority stakes to 15 investors last years that valued the team at $151 million, the highest valuation the WNBA has ever seen.

Bird obviously played a large role in making the Storm valuable. Between her first overall selection in the 2002 WNBA Draft and her retirement in 2022, the Storm have gone 392-308, made the playoffs 18 times and won four championships. Bird enjoyed playing with some all-time teammates, such as Lauren Jackson and Breanna Stewart, but her ability to elevate her teammates combined with her longevity made her an icon in Seattle.